Omega bands as a source of dB/dt in the auroral dawn sector

Omega bands are an auroral structure which consist of upward and downward field aligned currents (FACs) which are formed in the boundary between the region 1 and region 2 FACs in the dawn sector. They are characterised by their wave-like structure, which is often described as looking like a chain of the Greek letter Ω, with luminous extensions of the aurora protruding poleward. Omega bands cause ground based perturbations as they drift eastward, which can have large dB/dt values and hence are a potential source of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). GICs are a hazard to our infrastructure, as currents can be induced in power grids, railways and pipelines. In this study, we investigate several cases of omega bands using ground and spaced based observations to examine their properties. Observations from the European Incoherent SCATter (EISCAT) radar show enhancements in electron density, which alongside measurements of FACs from the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) can be used to study the intensity of different events. We use the IMAGE magnetometer network across Scandinavia to explore the latitudinal extend of omega bands as well as see their drift speed and dB/dt strength. SuperDARN and DMSP ion drift meter measurements help us to determine if the omega bands are embedded in the convection flow. Data from the DMSP Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) show the auroral data associated with omega bands. We present a study of omega bands from 2010 onwards.