Small-scale auroral features are still being discovered and are not well understood. Where aurorae are caused by particle precipitation, the newly reported fragmented aurora-like emissions (FAEs) seem to be locally generated in the ionosphere (hence, aurora-like). We analyse data from multiple instruments located near Longyearbyen to derive their main characteristics. They seem to occur as two types in a narrow altitude region (individually or in regularly spaced groups).

A total of 10 Super Dual Auroral Radar Network radars were used to estimate the horizontal area over which energetic electrons impact the atmosphere at 70–100 km altitude during pulsating aurorae (PsAs). The impact area varies significantly from event to event. Approximately one-third extend over 12° of magnetic latitude, while others are highly localised. Our results could be used to improve the forcing used in atmospheric/climate models to properly capture the energy contribution from PsAs.

About 200 nights of substorm activity have been analysed for their magnetic disturbance magnitude and the level of cosmic radio noise absorption. We show that substorms with a single expansion phase have limited lifetimes and spatial extents. Starting from magnetically quiet conditions, the strongest absorption occurs after 1 to 2 nights of substorm activity. This prolonged activity is thus required to accelerate particles to energies, which may affect the atmospheric chemistry.

In this study, we present the ionization level from EISCAT radar experiments and cosmic noise absorption level from KAIRA riometer observations during pulsating auroras. We found thick layers of ionization that reach down to 70 km (harder precipitation) and higher cosmic noise absorption during patchy pulsating aurora than during amorphous pulsating and patchy auroras.

Winds near the top of the atmosphere are expected to be the same at all heights for a given location by assuming high viscosity in rarefied gases. However, wind measurements from satellite drag at 350–400 km altitude were found to be up to 2 times larger than optical measurements at ∼240 km. Satellites provide global measurements, and ground-based FPIs provide long-term monitoring at single sites. So we must understand this inconsistency to model and predict atmospheric behaviour correctly.

Large-scale undulations of the diffuse aurora boundary, auroral omega bands, have been studied based on 438 omega-like structures identified over Fennoscandian Lapland from 1996 to 2007. The omegas mainly occurred in the post-magnetic midnight sector, in the region between oppositely directed ionospheric field-aligned currents, and during substorm recovery phases. The omega bands were observed during substorms, which were more intense than the average substorm in the same region.

This is the first statistical study of the motion of patchy pulsating aurora (PPA). Our results show that PPA patches mainly drift eastward after midnight and westward before midnight, which suggests that the drifts of auroral patches could be a proxy for the ionospheric convection and provide a convenient and accurate method to remotely sense the magnetospheric convection. We also found that patch velocities do not seem to depend on AE index.

The total solar eclipse event on Svalbard on 20 March 2015 gave us a unique opportunity to image the upper parts of the Sun's atmosphere. A novel image accumulation filter technique is presented that is capable of distinguishing features such as loops, spicules, plumes, and prominences from intense and blurry video recordings of the chromosphere.

In order to compare auroral observations, it is necessary to ensure that all instruments are properly calibrated. This can be difficult to achieve with different instruments operated for extended intervals at remote field sites under harsh conditions. Astronomical sources can be used for independent absolute calibration procedures. Under ideal conditions Jupiter is an excellent source, as it can provide more light than the brightest star. We use Jupiter to calibrate an auroral MSP network.

In this paper we describe a new method for recognition of digits in seven-segment displays. The method is used for adding date and time information to a dataset consisting of about 7 million auroral all-sky images taken during the time period of 1973–1997 at camera stations centred around Sodankylä observatory in Northern Finland. In each image there is a clock display for the date and time together with the reflection of the whole night sky through a spherical mirror.

We use the connection between auroras and geomagnetic field variations in a concept for a Regional Auroral Forecast (RAF) service. RAF is based on statistical relationships between alerts by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and magnetic time derivatives measured by five MIRACLE magnetometer stations located in the surroundings of the Sodankylä research station. As an improvement to previous similar services RAF yields knowledge on typical auroral storm durations at different latitudes.

Rapid fluctuations in amplitude and phase of radio waves passing through the ionosphere degrade GPS positional accuracy and can lead to navigational errors, particularly during geomagnetic storms. As a function of magnetic latitude and local time, regions of GPS phase scintillation at high latitudes are identified in the context of coupling between the solar wind and the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, which primarily depends on the interplanetary magnetic field magnitude and orientation.