Auroral studies with a chain of meridian scanning photometers 2. Mean distributions of proton and electron aurora as a function of magnetic activity

Data obtained during the IMS with a ground-based chain of meridian photometers which measured the H/sub ..beta../ and OI 5577-A emissions have been analyzed quantitatively to yield the mean distributions of proton and electron aurora in geomagnetic latitude and time as functions of magnetic activity. The total energy inputs from electron and proton precipitation around the nightside auroral oval are estimated as functions of AE from the 5577-A and H/sub ..beta../ intensity data. Average latitude profiles for the two emissions are given as a function of AE for the four night time sectors between 1800 and 0600 local magnetic time. In agreement with previous studies it is found that the average flux due to protons is an order of magnitude less than that due to electrons under disturbed conditions although under very quiet conditions the two are comparable. Finally, the H/sub ..beta../ observations have been fitted to a quantitative empirical model giving H/sub ..beta../ intensity distributions as a function of AE. The peak values of H/sub ..beta../ intensity increase linearly with AE for all magnetic time sectors. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

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