Fox, N. J. Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt MD

For the first time ever, the International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) missions and collaborating observatories tracked a solar eruption all the way, from a Coronal Mass Ejection expelled from the Sun, through interplanetary space, until it hit the Earth's magnetic environment, causing violent disturbances and spectacular auroral displays. The initial expulsion occurred on the Sun on January 6, 1997, and a resulting magnetic cloud hit the Earth on January 10.

In this presentation, we will review the ionospheric and ground effects of the magnetic cloud passage through geospace. Specifically we will present auroral images from the POLAR spacecraft, electric field and ionospheric convection measurements from radars, electrojet activity from an array of ground-based magnetometers and all-sky-camera observations. These measurements will be discussed in terms of the global impact of the event.

Extensive information about this event is available on the World Wide Web at the following URL:

http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/cloud_jan97/event.html

PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: NICOLA.FOX@GSFC.NASA.GOV

Nicola J. Fox
GGS Operations Coordinator
NASA/GSFC - Code 696
Greenbelt
MD 20771 USA

Tel 301-286-8872
Fax 301-286-1648