Explaining the dynamics of the ultra-relativistic third Van Allen radiation belt
- Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada). Dept. of Physics
- Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada). Dept. of Physics; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)
- The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Lab. for Atmospheric and Space Physics
- Univ. College London (UCL), Holmbury St. Mary (United Kingdom). Mullard Space Science Lab.
- Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States). Inst. for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Space and Atmospheric Sciences (NIS-1) Group
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO (United States). Space Weather Prediction Center
- National Observatory of Athens, Penteli (Greece). Inst. for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing
- National Observatory of Athens, Penteli (Greece). Inst. for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing; National and Kapodistrian Univ. of Athens (Greece). Dept. of Physics
- Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom). Dept. of Physics
Since the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts over 50 years ago, an explanation for their complete dynamics has remained elusive. Especially challenging is understanding the recently discovered ultra-relativistic third electron radiation belt. Current theory asserts that loss in the heart of the outer belt, essential to the formation of the third belt, must be controlled by high-frequency plasma wave–particle scattering into the atmosphere, via whistler mode chorus, plasmaspheric hiss, or electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves. However, this has failed to accurately reproduce the third belt. In this paper, using a data-driven, time-dependent specification of ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves we show for the first time how the third radiation belt is established as a simple, elegant consequence of storm-time extremely fast outward ULF wave transport. High-frequency wave–particle scattering loss into the atmosphere is not needed in this case. Finally, when rapid ULF wave transport coupled to a dynamic boundary is accurately specified, the sensitive dynamics controlling the enigmatic ultra-relativistic third radiation belt are naturally explained.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States); Univ. College London (UCL), Holmbury St. Mary (United Kingdom); Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA); European Commission (EC) (Belgium); European Union (EU) (Belgium); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (United States); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (United Kingdom); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) (United Kingdom); USDOE
- Contributing Organization:
- Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom); National Observatory of Athens, Penteli (Greece); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO (United States); National and Kapodistrian Univ. of Athens (Greece); The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 1338757
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--16-20639
- Journal Information:
- Nature Physics, Journal Name: Nature Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 12; ISSN 1745-2473
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group (NPG)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Roles of whistler mode waves and magnetosonic waves in changing the outer radiation belt and the slot region
Evolution of chorus emissions into plasmaspheric hiss observed by Van Allen Probes
The Characteristic Response of Whistler Mode Waves to Interplanetary Shocks
Journal Article
·
Tue Apr 25 20:00:00 EDT 2017
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
·
OSTI ID:1467370
Evolution of chorus emissions into plasmaspheric hiss observed by Van Allen Probes
Journal Article
·
Sun May 08 20:00:00 EDT 2016
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
·
OSTI ID:1338752
The Characteristic Response of Whistler Mode Waves to Interplanetary Shocks
Journal Article
·
Thu Sep 28 20:00:00 EDT 2017
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
·
OSTI ID:1440491