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The aurora is the most familiar and dramatic manifestation of the
interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere. Auroral
emissions at infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and
radio wavelengths are
produced by the precipitation of electrons and protons from the
magnetosphere into the upper atmosphere above the northern and southern
polar regions. Brightenings of the aurora and changes in the shape
and location of the auroral oval indicate disturbances in the magnetosphere
caused by increased transfer of energy, mass, and momentum from
the solar wind into the magnetosphere.
- Current auroral images from three instruments on board NASA's
Polar spacecraft:
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Daily Auroral Activity Maps False-color maps showing
estimates of the amount of power deposited in the Earth's
northern and southern auroral zones by the precipitating auroral
particles. Prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Space Environment Center from measurements
made by NOAA's Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite (POES).
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Recent Space Weather Data from DMSP Plots of the midnight
boundary index (indicating expansion of auroral oval during
increased geomagnetic activity) and of hemispheric power index
(estimate of total power deposited at high latitudes by auroral
particles)
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