Investigation into alternative statistical auroral oval models, stage 1
The statistical model sensitivity to different methods of binning the NOAA/TIROS data base was examined. Each partial auroral pass was analyzed to locate the latitude of peak electron energy flux. Then using this location as the final reference latitude, all other data was binned relative to it. The next line of attack was to bin according to where the latitudinal profile center of gravity lay. This procedure overcomes the problem of very narrow intense features controlling the binning. Again the same data sets were analyzed and a binning made. These profiles look better and indeed look similar to the original auroral model. The passes were then binned relative to the equatorward boundary. The problems associated with the equatorward edge were resolved.