The Apparent Motion of STEVE and Picket Fence Phenomena

Abstract:

In this study, we present the first data obtained from the new Transition Region Explorer (TREx) RGB Imager, and analyze the apparent motion of STEVE and Picket Fence structures in an event on 31st August, 2019. The structures associated with STEVE are found to feature a fast westward motion (~5-10 km/s). This is consistent with the notions that STEVE is co-located with a fast subauroral ion drift (SAID) channel, and that the SAID plays a key role in the production of STEVE. The apparent motion of the Picket Fence structures is much slower (~400-600 m/s), and can be both westward and eastward. This implies that either the Picket Fence is located at different magnetic flux tubes from that of STEVE, with much slower plasma convection speed, or that the motion of Picket Fence does not follow the plasma convection.