Identifying the Cause of Relativistic Electron Flux Depletions in Earth's Outer Radiation Belt

Details Identifying the Cause of Relativistic Electron Flux Depletions in Earth's Outer Radiation Belt Identifying the Cause of Relativistic Electron Flux Depletions in Earth's Outer Radiation Belt

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufmsm32a..01g&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #SM32A-01

Physics

2716 Energetic Particles: Precipitating, 2720 Energetic Particles: Trapped, 2730 Magnetosphere: Inner, 2774 Radiation Belts

Scientific paper

Satellite measurements depict Earth's outer radiation belt as a hostile and highly variable environment that researchers have been challenged to explain and predict. Erratic changes in the flux of radiation belt electrons in response to geomagnetic activity suggest that acceleration is often countered by profuse loss. To predict flux variations both processes must eventually be quantified. Here we identify relevant loss mechanisms by analyzing times when losses overwhelmingly dominate, causing electron flux to decrease dramatically. Recent work suggests that scattering into the atmosphere may be responsible for such flux depletions [Green et al., 2004]. We compare flux measurements from high and low altitude satellites to confirm whether the electron flux observed precipitating into the atmosphere can account for the flux decreases observed at high altitudes. We identify the waves or scattering mechanisms responsible for electron loss by comparing the occurrence of precipitating electrons and waves. Finally, we examine how changes in the magnetospheric configuration enhance or inhibit the growth of waves and their ability to interact with high energy electrons, thus, indirectly dictating radiation belt electron flux levels.

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