Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Statistical Comparison of Electron Loss and Enhancement in the Outer Radiation Belt During Storms
AU - Walton, S. D.
AU - Forsyth, C.
AU - Rae, I. J.
AU - Meredith, N. P.
AU - Sandhu, J. K.
AU - Walach, M.‐T.
AU - Murphy, K. R.
PY - 2022/5/31
Y1 - 2022/5/31
N2 - Abstract: The near‐relativistic electron population in the outer Van Allen radiation belt is highly dynamic and strongly coupled to geomagnetic activity such as storms and substorms, which are driven by the interaction of the magnetosphere with the solar wind. The energy, content, and spatial extent of electrons in the outer radiation belt can vary on timescales of hours to days, dictated by the continuously evolving influence of acceleration and loss processes. While net changes in the electron population are directly observable, the relative influence of different processes is far from fully understood. Using a continuous 12 year data set from the Proton Electron Telescope on board the Solar Anomalous Magnetospheric Particle Explorer, we statistically compare the relative variations of trapped electrons to those in the bounce loss cone (BLC). Our results show that there is a proportional increase in flux entering the BLC outside the plasmapause during storm main phase and early recovery phase. Loss enhancement is sustained on the dawnside throughout the recovery phase while loss on the duskside is enhanced around minimum Sym‐H and quickly diminishes. Spatial variations are also examined in relation to geomagnetic activity, making comparisons to possible causal wave modes such as whistler‐mode chorus and plasmaspheric hiss.
AB - Abstract: The near‐relativistic electron population in the outer Van Allen radiation belt is highly dynamic and strongly coupled to geomagnetic activity such as storms and substorms, which are driven by the interaction of the magnetosphere with the solar wind. The energy, content, and spatial extent of electrons in the outer radiation belt can vary on timescales of hours to days, dictated by the continuously evolving influence of acceleration and loss processes. While net changes in the electron population are directly observable, the relative influence of different processes is far from fully understood. Using a continuous 12 year data set from the Proton Electron Telescope on board the Solar Anomalous Magnetospheric Particle Explorer, we statistically compare the relative variations of trapped electrons to those in the bounce loss cone (BLC). Our results show that there is a proportional increase in flux entering the BLC outside the plasmapause during storm main phase and early recovery phase. Loss enhancement is sustained on the dawnside throughout the recovery phase while loss on the duskside is enhanced around minimum Sym‐H and quickly diminishes. Spatial variations are also examined in relation to geomagnetic activity, making comparisons to possible causal wave modes such as whistler‐mode chorus and plasmaspheric hiss.
KW - Magnetospheric Physics
KW - INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS
KW - Coronal mass ejections
KW - MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS
KW - Energetic particles: precipitating
KW - Energetic particles: trapped
KW - Plasmasphere
KW - Radiation belts
KW - Magnetic storms and substorms
KW - NATURAL HAZARDS
KW - Space weather
KW - SOLAR PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICS, AND ASTRONOMY
KW - SPACE WEATHER
KW - Magnetic storms
KW - Research Article
KW - radiation belts
KW - geomagnetic storms
KW - magnetospheric waves
U2 - 10.1029/2021ja030069
DO - 10.1029/2021ja030069
M3 - Journal article
VL - 127
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
SN - 2169-9402
IS - 5
M1 - e2021JA030069
ER -