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Description of the MIRACLE quicklook plots

The MIRACLE quicklook plots consist of six panels:

• 1) The local AE index which is based on IMAGE recordings and derived similarly to the global AE index. A statistical study shows that the local index (AL) is close to the global one during 2130-0130 UT.
• 2) Bx (north component) magnetograms of 8 IMAGE stations (at geogr. latitudes 65-79N and longitudes 12-27E). The magnetograms show the variation field. Baseline levels have been chosen from data around 0600 UT.

• 3) ASC keograms and electrojet boundary locations. The keograms show the auroral intensity along the middle meridian of the Kilpisjärvi ASC (at 69.02N, 20.79E). When available, also the keogram from Longyearbyen (78.20N, 15.70E) is displayed above the KIL keogram. The keograms show the occurence of activity but further interpretation is not straightforward. If you want to make more detailed analysis, please, contact Kirsti Kauristie (Kirsti.Kauristie@fmi.fi) for the original all-sky images.

  The provisional electrojet boundary locations are based on latitude profiles of Bx variations along the middle meridian of IMAGE. This method is suitable only for quicklook purposes (ignores longitudinal variations and FACs). To get a better view on the current system, extract the magnetograms from the IMAGE web-pages.

• 4) Range-Time-Intensity (RTI) plot of STARE shows the intensity of backscatter along the beam 4 of the Norwegian radar. The beam is divided in 50 range gates which correspond to distances of 495-1245 km (along the beam) from the radar (check the map). Intensities >3 dB are above the background noise level. For more details, see the help page of RTI-plots.
• 5) East component of the electron velocity which is derived from the merged data of the two radars. If only one radar was operating this panels shows the line-of-sight velocity along the beam 4 of the radar.
• 6) North component of the electron velocity which is derived from the merged data of the two radars. This panel is empty if both radars were not operating.

Due to data gaps we cannot always strictly follow the above given format (e.g. in panel 3 Kilpisjärvi may be replaced with another ASC-station or in panels 4-6 beam 4 may be replaced with another beam). So, please, always check the legends of the plots!

Latest update on April 26, 1999.