Simultaneous electron precipitation in the northern and southern auroral zones.

Summary

During simultaneous high-altitude balloon flights from College, Alaska, and Macquarie Island, Australia, on March 5, 1962, substantial fluxes of auroral zone X rays were observed in both hemispheres during magnetic bay activity. The X-ray observations indicate that the electron influx in both hemispheres extended over a region 3 degrees in latitude and 16 degrees in longitude. The near equality of the X-ray fluxes in both auroral zones suggests that the electron precipitation originated from processes far out on the lines of force, near the equatorial plane. The magnetic and ionospheric disturbances accompanying the X-ray event are discussed.