Earth albedo effects in satellite auroral photometry

Abstract

ISIS 2 satellite photometer scans have been analyzed to obtain the integrated photon flux (3914 Å) from a thin slice of the auroral oval viewed during one spin of the spacecraft. The results have been corrected for earth surface albedo contamination and shown to be consistent with model calculations. An empirical equation has been developed which permits estimation of the integrated photon fluxes directly from observed scan profiles provided that the spectral albedo is known. The technique should make it possible to estimate the instantaneous total global deposition of particle energy into the auroral zone ionosphere.