L'aurore boréale exceptionnelle du 13 - 14 Mars 1989.

The paper reports the observation of a very active aurora borealis in France on the night of March 13-14, 1989 between 19:30 and 0:30 UT. The physical processes related to the origin of auroras are reviewed. Chromospheric eruptions that were observed between March 6 and 10 are described, focusing on the relationship between the eruptions and the aurora borealis on March 13. Also, an aurora that was observed in the U.S. on March 8, 1989 is discussed. Features of the auroras of March 8 and March 13 are compared, including cosmic ray intensities and interactions between the shock wave and the earth's magnetosphere.