Classification of auroral structures based on their spectral characteristics

Aurora is caused by precipitation of accelerated electrons into the upper atmosphere of the Earth. The physics of the acceleration is not understood very well yet. One of the most intriguing features
of the aurora is the richness of the structure seen in auroral displays. How this structuring and dynamics are related to the acceleration mechanisms is not yet clear.

The characteristic energies and total energy flux of the electron precipitation can be derived from the spectra of optical emissions in the aurora.

The aim of this project is to study the relation between the auroral spectra, recorded by a high-resolution spectrograph, and the auroral morphology on small scales, as observed by a sensitive videocamera. In our collaboration with the University of Southampton, UK, we have access
to the data from several seasons of observations by Spectrographic Imaging Facility on Svalbard. The fist stage will be surveying the spectrograph data, and classifying the events by their spectral characteristics. The second stage will be studying the videosequences for the selected events, in order to characterize the morphology of the aurora.

Basic knowledge of plasma physics and space physics is useful. The work involves visit(s) to the University of Southampton, UK.

Suitable backgrounds are physics, electrical engineering.