The Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e‑POP) is a research payload on the CASSIOPE spacecraft that is collecting new data on space storms and associated plasma outflows from the Earth’s ionosphere. Dr. Miles is the instrument Co-PI of the magnetic field instrument on the Cassiope/e-POP spacecraft

Research

A new publication in Geophysical Research Letters, lead by Dr. David Miles of the University of Iowa, makes use of e-POP and Swarm in-situ satellite data over Northern Canada to address the question of the energy source for dynamic aurora: static electric fields or magnetic waves? It is shown that magnetic Alfvén waves can be present over dynamic aurora, and it is argued that these waves play an important role in powering the brilliant aurora overhead. See the full abstract or paper to find out more.