  The propagation of reconnection signatures and their associated energy are
examined using kinetic particle-in-cell simulations and Cluster satellite
observations. It is found that the quadrupolar out-of-plane magnetic field near
the separatrices is associated with a kinetic Alfv\'en wave. For magnetotail
parameters, the parallel propagation of this wave is super-Alfv\'enic
(V_parallel ~ 1500 - 5500 km/s) and generates substantial Poynting flux (S ~
10^-5 - 10^-4 W/m^2) consistent with Cluster observations of magnetic
reconnection. This Poynting flux substantially exceeds that due to frozen-in
ion bulk outflows and is sufficient to generate white light aurora in the
Earth's ionosphere.
