Spectral and photometric characteristics of mid-latitude auroras during the magnetic storm of March 17, 2015

We study the spatiotemporal dynamics of mid-latitude aurora from observations in the south of Eastern Siberia during St. Patrick’s severe geomagnetic storm on March 17, 2015. We perform a morphological analysis of characteristics of the observed auroras. A preliminary conclusion is drawn that the analyzed event is the result of the manifestation of mid-latitude auroras of two types (type “d” and SAR arc) and ordinary aurora observed at the northern horizon. The maximum intensity of the dominant emission [OI] at 630.0 nm (~14 kR) allows this mid-latitude aurora to be attributed to the extreme auroras occurring in mid-latitudes, which is second only to the November 20, 2003 superstorm (~19 kR)

Modeling nightglow in atomic oxygen red and green lines under moderate disturbed geomagnetic conditions at midlatitudes

We present results of a study of mid-latitude auroras. The study is based on optical measurements and theoretical modeling. The modeling shows that precipitation can indirectly generate airglow in red and green lines of atomic oxygen by increasing rates of ion formation and heating of thermal electrons. This causes an increase in the rate of dissociative recombination and thermal-electron-collision excitation of the 1D and 1S levels