Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 80.

The auroral zone is a region in which complex plasma dynamics take place. This region has been studied in great detail by sounding rocket and satellite experiments, as well as through ground-based observations. The primary focus of this volume is advances made in auroral research in the last 10 years. Main areas of concern are the global morphology of the auroral zone, auroral acceleration processes, parallel electric fields, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and waves and turbulence in the auroral zone, as well as the role played by active auroral experiments. The recent results from the Viking and Akebono satellites are considered, and the current state of the field is assessed in preparation for new missions such as Fast, Freja, and the ISTP program. This volume will serve to disseminate these results to the wider space physics community.