Height‐integrated Joule and auroral particle heating in the night side high latitude thermosphere

Energy deposited at high latitudes by Joule and auroral particle heating perturbs the chemistry and dynamics of the neutral thermosphere. Height‐integrated heating rates can be calculated by combining Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) measurements with TIMED spacecraft Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) auroral images. Spatial maps of heating rates are examined during two TIMED orbits and statistical averages are presented for quiet to moderate levels of geomagnetic activity. Joule heating dominates in the evening sector auroral oval, whereas particle heating dominates after midnight. There is also a tendency for Joule heating (particle heating) to dominate in the vicinity of the region‐1 (region‐2) currents. This complementary behavior is associated with suppression of the electric field in regions of bright aurora.