A new publication in Geophysical Research Letters, lead by Dr. David Miles of the University of Iowa, makes use of e-POP and Swarm in-situ satellite data over Northern Canada to address the question of the energy source for dynamic aurora: static electric fields or magnetic waves? It is shown that magnetic Alfvén waves can be present over dynamic aurora, and it is argued that these waves play an important role in powering the brilliant aurora overhead. See the full abstract or paper to find out more.
