An ionospheric origin for Pi 1 micropulsations

Cosmic noise absorption pulsation events observed with fast response riometers at Macquarie Island in the southern auroral zone have almost always been accompanied by Pi 1 micropulsations. A cross-spectral analysis of fast response riometer data and vertical component induction magnetometer data for one such event showed that, after the low frequency components are removed, the absorption A(t) is better correlated with the absolute value of the field Z(t) than with the recorded quantity $\text{d}\text{Z}\text{dt}$. The peaks in Z(t) lag those in A(t) by one second while A(t) lags $\text{d}\text{Z}\text{d}\text{t}$ by abou second. Furthermore, many of the pulsations in Z(t) show a similar time asymmetry to that commonly observed in c.n.a. pulsations, viz. a more rapid onset time than decay time.These results are taken as evidence that the Pi 1 micropulsations observed from the ground during the recovery phase of an auroral substorm are brought about by fluctuations in the ionospheric currents which give rise to the magnetic bay, these fluctuations being due to conductivity changes resulting from particle precipitation. The lag between A(t) and Z > (t) is attributed to the self-inductance of the electrojet.