Abstract
Auroral torch structures are frequently observed as large scale wave-like undulations on the poleward edge of the diffuse precipitation zone. Their eastward drift velocity has the same order of magnitude and direction as the electric drift velocity usually observed in the morning sector. From a study of all-sky camera and TV data, the main peculiarities of the torch structures are shown. Three cases were studied. Height distributions of luminosity along the boundaries of the torch were made using the triangulation method in the first case. It was shown that the poleward boundary of the torch had the lowest altitudes around the crest. The second case was the appearance of a train consisting of five torches that existed for a relatively long time (~20 min), drifting eastward. On the contrary the last case was the successive development of two torches recorded by the TV camera. For the two latter cases the field-aligned mapping of the torches into the magnetotail is made using the latest version of the Tsyganenko magnetic field model (1989). The results of mapping showed that the generation of torch structures takes place quite close to the Earth, at a distance of 5–6 R E .
Published Version
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