On the analysis of aurora stereo observations

Abstract

A method of analysis is investigated for the monochromatic aurora stereo TV observations at Antarctica. First, a camera model is obtained by using calibration data for the background stars. Second, an inverse problem is solved which reconstructs three-dimensional luminosity structures of aurora photoemission from two-dimensional projection of auroral images. The method assumes prescribed spatial distributions of luminosity, parameters of which are to be determined by the nonlinear least squares method. A series of numerical tests indicates that stereo data give plausible estimation of the model parameters, but in some cases, the method is jeopardized due to unfavourable geometrical conditions. A preliminary analysis of the stereoscopic observation for the stable aurora arc is carried out, and the presumed structure of luminosity at 557.7 [nm] wavelength is inferred. -Authors