Results From A Network of Optical Imagers in The Western United States

Abstract:

A network of 630 nm all-sky imagers in the continental United States is being designed to observe generation, propagation, and dissipation of medium and large-scale wave activity in the subauroral, mid and low-latitude thermosphere. This network will ultimately consist of 8 all-sky imagers. Three of the imagers are thus far funded and operational. These imagers form a network providing continuous coverage over the western United States, including California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona and Texas extending south into Mexico. This network sees high levels of both medium and large scale wave activity. Apart from the widely reported northeast to southwest propagating wavefronts resulting from the so called Perkins mechanism, this network observes wavefronts propagating to the west, north and northeast. We will present a comprehensive analysis of over six months of observations from this network and hypothesize source mechanisms.