Mapping of the statistical auroral distribution into the magnetosphere
Statistical auroral distributions are used in combination with an empirical model of the Earth's magnetic field in an attempt to determine the large-scale magnetospheric source regions for various types of auroral luminosity. The narrow ring of structured auroral emissions during magnetically quiet intervals appears to be associated with the inner region of the nightside central plasma sheet and the dayside entry layer. Under active conditions these discrete structures expand to fill the entire central plasma sheet. The high-altitude boundary plasma sheet on the other hand is more likely to be related to diffuse auroral emissions poleward of this "oval" and to high-latitude polar auroral arcs. Under this scenario, the region of the magnetosphere bounded by the inner edge of the tail current sheet, the plasmasphere, and the dayside entry layer is the source region for the most equatorward diffuse auroral precipitation.