Case studies of auroral observations in MATS satellite data

Auroral events observed by the Swedish microsatellite MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy) offer a unique opportunity to study the lower thermosphere and ionosphere. This work focuses on the atmospheric band emission of oxygen molecules, analyzing light absorption effects and deriving temperature characteristics from infrared imagery.

 Twelve auroral events, selected based on clarity and minimal background luminosity, were analyzed through background subtraction, pointing alignment, and keogram reconstruction. Models for light absorption and emission were developed to evaluate oxygen column densities and estimate molecular temperatures.

Preliminary results demonstrate the significant impact of oxygen absorption on auroral intensity measurements and provide a framework for interpreting temperature variations in the emission spectrum. These findings advance the understanding of auroral dynamics and their interactions with atmospheric layers, contributing to improved models of energy transfer in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.