Red Line Diffuse-Like Aurora Driven by Time Domain Structures Associated
with Braking Magnetotail Flow Bursts
Abstract
Magnetotail earthward-propagating fast plasma flows provide important
pathways for magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. This study reexamines a
flow-related red-line diffuse-like aurora event previously reported by
Liang et al., (2011), utilizing THEMIS and ground-based
auroral observations from Poker Flat. We find that time domain
structures (TDSs) within the flow bursts efficiently drive electron
precipitation below a few keV, aligning with predominantly red-line
auroral intensifications in this non-substorm event. The diffuse-like
auroras sometimes coexisted with or potentially evolved from discrete
forms. We forward model red-line diffuse-like auroras due to TDS-driven
precipitation, employing the time-dependent TREx-ATM auroral transport
code. The good correlation (0.77) between our
modeled and observed red line emissions underscores that TDSs are a
primary driver of the red-line diffuse-like auroras, though
whistler-mode wave contributions are needed to fully explain the most
intense red-line emissions.