ROLE OF POST-BREAKUP PULSATING AURORA IN CONJUGATE POINT ABSORPTION INCREASES

On the basis of the available yearly riometer, photometer, magnetometer and all-sky camera records from Macquarie Island and the northern conjugate area, it is evident that the typical development of auroral substorms is similar at the auroral zone conjugate stations. Simultaneous occurrence of arcs and bands precedes the breakup phase which is followed by patchy, pulsating auroras, predominantly recorded in the morning hours at Kotzebue and Macquarie Island. The post-breakup phase is associated with strong absorption increases at both conjugate stations. It is suggested that the presence of certain daytime morning absorption bays is caused by hard electron precipitation associated with pulsating patches, recorded at the conjugate station in the night-time sector of the Earth. © 1969.