Observations of field line resonance with global auroral images

We report results from a detailed analysis of an auroral luminosity pulsation event in the Pc 5 range associated with auroral breakup using Polar ultraviolet imager data and magnetic field observations from the ground-based CARISMA magnetometer array and in space by the GOES 8 satellite. It is found that (1) the auroral pulsation appeared predominantly at frequencies around ~0.9 mHz and ~1.8 mHz in the midnight sector centered at the onset (~2100 magnetic local time (MLT)), (2) the longitudinal extent of the auroral pulsation is wider (~12 h in MLT) for the lower-frequency mode and is much narrower for the higher-frequency mode (~3 h in MLT), (3) both auroral and ground magnetic field data show latitudinal wave amplitude and phase shift structures consistent with the field-line resonance (FLR) theory, (4) magnetic field measurements from GOES 8, which was near the onset location, also show two spectral peaks at ~0.9 mHz in the compressional component and at ~2.1 mHz in the poloidal component. It is suggested the observed Pc 5 ULF waves are FLRs produced by the onset-associated magnetic field dipolarization.