Space Research Group of Oulu Optical instrumentation of Oulu

spaceweb@oulu.fi - last update: 1 April 2010 (RR)

Despite new observation methods provided by radars and satellites, optical measurements are still important when studying auroras. The Space Physics Group of Oulu is regularly combining optical auroral (and other) measurements with national EISCAT measurement campaigns by using TV cameras and photometers in the field. The instruments are designed and build in house by Dr. Kari Kaila and M. Sc. Jouni Jussila. Currently used measurement sites can be seen in the picture below.

Optical auroral instrumentation of Space Physics group of Oulu is mainly used is four sites, in Tromsö, Norway and in Kilpisjärvi, Karesuvanto and Sodankylä in Finland. Tromsö is used during EISCAT campaigns, photometer and camera are located to Kilpisjärvi and Karesuvanto continuously, and third photometer is located to Sodankylä.

Space physics group of University of Oulu is concentrated on study of small-scale and short temporal resolution auroral forms. For this reason group uses cameras with narrow field-of-view, both three real-speed (old ATV-86 and two new ATV-98) and two snapshot (AP7) versions. 

Auroral photometers designed and built in group are used to obtain the absolute intensities of the studied auroral emissions. Three scanning photometers are used in Northern Scandinavia both in campaign and in continuous measurements. One photometer has also been constructed for the Chinese Zhong Shan station in Antarctic. This station is closely conjugated (magnetically) with the EISCAT Svalbard Radar.

Some data and other information in here.

Publication by the Oulu group related to (group's own) optical measurements

  • Kaila, K., R. Rasinkangas, P. Pollari, R. Kuula, J. Kangas, T. Turunen and T. Bösinger, High resolution measurements of pulsating aurora by EISCAT, optical instruments and pulsation magnetometers, Adv. Space Res., 9, (5)53-(5)56, 1989.
  • Kaila, K.U., and R. A. Rasinkangas, Coordinated photometer and incoherent scatter radar measurement of pulsating arcs with high time resolution, Planet. Space Sci., 37, 545-553, 1989.
  • Rasinkangas, R., K. Kaila and T. Turunen, Comparison of the lower border of aurorae determined by two optical emission ratio models, Planet. Space Sci., 37, 1117-1126, 1989.
  • Collis, P.N., I. Häggstöm, K. Kaila, and M.T. Rietveld, EISCAT radar observations of enhanced incoherent scatter spectra; Their relation to red aurora and field-aligned currents. Geophys. Res. Lett., 18, 1031-1034, 1991.
  • Aikio, A.T., H.J. Opgenoorth, M.A.L. Persson, and K.U. Kaila, Ground-based measurements of an arc-associated electric field, J. atmos. terr. Phys., 55, No. 4/5, 797-808, 1993.
  • Kaila, K.U., R. Rasinkangas, and J. Kangas, Photometric calibration of auroral TV pictures during a pulsating patch event. Ann. Geophys., 11, 790-796, 1993.
  • Lanchester, B.S., J.R. Palmer, M.H. Rees, D. Lummerzheim, K. Kaila, and T. Turunen, Energy flux and characteristic energy of an elemental auroral structure, Geophys. Res. Lett., 21, 2789-2792, 1994.
  • Aikio, A. and K. Kaila, A substorm observed by EISCAT and other ground-based instruments - evidence for near-Earth substorm initiation, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 58, 5-21, 1996.
  • Bösinger, T., K. Kaila, R. Rasinkangas, P. Pollari, J. Kangas, V. Trakhtengerts, A. Demekhov, and T. Turunen, An EISCAT study of a pulsating auroral arc: simultaneous ionospheric electron density, auroral luminosity and magnetic field pulsations, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 58, 23-35, 1996.
  • Lanchester, B. S., K. Kaila, and I. W. McCrea, Relationship between large horizontal electric fields and auroral arc elements. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 5075-5084, 1996.
  • Nygrén, T., M. Markkanen, M. Lehtinen, and K. Kaila, Application of stochastic inversion in auroral tomography, Ann. Geophys., 14, 1124-1133, 1996.
  • Kaila, K.U., C. Chong, Z. Qunshan, H. Holma, R. Rasinkangas, and J. Kangas: Auroral photometer measurements in Antarctic: The Zhong Shan station. Satellite-Ground Based Coordination Sourcebook, edited by M. Lockwood, H.J. Opgenoorth, M.N. Wild, and R. Stamper, 183-191, 1997.
  • Pellinen-Wannberg, A., A. Westman, G. Wannberg, and K. Kaila, Meteor fluxes and visual magnitudes from EISCAT radar event rates: a comparison with cross-section based magnitude estimates and optical data. Ann. Geophys., 16, 1475-1485, 1998.
  • Holma, H.J., K.U. Kaila, and J.R.T. Jussila, Temperatures, emission heights and energies in discrete auroral forms, Phys. Chem. Earth (B) 25, No. 5-6, 463-466, 2000.
  • Kaila, K.U. and H.J. Holma, Absolute calibration of photometer, Phys. Chem. Earth (B) 25, No. 5-6, 467-470, 2000.

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