Aurora at small scales: From Optical to Rockets

Ground based optical observations of aurorae, just on their own, are full of information down to the smallest of scales.
In high time and spatial resolution imagery we find evidence that pulsating aurora is caused by electrons bouncing back and forth between the two hemispheres. This means that these electrons are responsible for some of the total light in the
aurora, a possibility that has mostly not been folded into theoretical models. Furthermore, combining a variety of ground based imagery with in-situ observations is a multiplier. The GREECE rocket mission demonstrated that by combining multi-emission line information about the auroral brightness at the magnetic footprint of the rocket with in-situ signatures of precipitating particles and waves. Such studies represent the first steps toward multi-instrument, common volume, distributed and heterogeneous observations of the aurora. Among other things, to more fully understand the complexity of processes happening at the medium and small-scales and their effects on the energy input into our atmosphere.