Observations of SAR arcs from OV1-10

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Three midlatitude red arcs were measured by the night airglow photometer on board OV1-10 (1966–111B) during the winter of 1966–1967. One arc was observed as a conjugate phenomenon. Another arc was observed for 2 days at a constant local time and was found to decrease in intensity, increase in width, and move to higher L values with universal time. Both arcs were found to be associated with the plasmapause, the location of which was determined from the VLF measurements made by OV3–3 (1966–70A). These observations are shown to be consistent with the theory that SAR arcs are generated at the plasmapause as a consequence of the turbulent dissipation of ring current energy.