Multispectral Study of Sunlit Aurora Using HiT&MIS: Preliminary Results

In the auroral zones, energetic particles collide with atmospheric gases creating optical emissions and heat up the upper atmosphere. This energy input drives ionization that produces secondary electrons which are sensitive to the energy spectra of the incident particles and the atmospheric conditions that vary between day and night and across seasons. While aurorae have been extensively studied at night, daytime observations from the ground are scarce due to the bright and complex solar background.
To address this gap, this study employs the High Throughput and Multislit Imaging Spectrograph (HiT&MIS) to obtain high-resolution (~0.039nm resolution at 557.7nm) spectra of atmospheric airglow and auroral emissions. It will conduct all-season, around-the-clock, ground-based observations from Kiruna, Sweden (67.8° N, 20.2° E). Kiruna’s location within the Arctic Circle provides an ideal vantage point for continuous auroral observations. Investigating daytime auroral processes contributes to the broader understanding of Earth’s complex atmosphere. Here, we present preliminary results from our ongoing study.