Data-derived spatiotemporal resolution constraints for global auroral imagers

Abstract

We present new data-derived constraints on spatiotemporal resolution of global auroral imagers. The reported results are based on an extensive set of images from two previously flown instruments, POLAR UVI and IMAGE WIC, processed using the event detection methodology developed by Uritsky et al. (2002, 2003, 2006). We use the cross-scale analysis of ground-based and spacecraft observations of auroral emission regions by Kozelov et al. (2004) to derive the power law exponent relating spatial and temporal scales of auroral precipitation events, and estimate the normalization factor entering this relation using the satellite data. Our results show the existence of a nontrivial scaling relation between the relaxation time and the spatial dimension of auroral emission events. We use this relation as a proxi to the resolution scaling function providing non-redundant combinations of spatial and temporal resolution of an optimized auroral imager consistent with the dynamics of multiscale auroral precipitation. © Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.