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Understanding the mechanisms of radiation belt dropouts observed by Van Allen Probes

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA024487· OSTI ID:1394980
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [3]
  1. Wuhan Univ. (China). School of Electronic Information, Dept. of Space Physics; West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
  2. West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
  3. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Lab. for Atmospheric and Space Physics
  4. Wuhan Univ. (China). School of Electronic Information, Dept. of Space Physics
  5. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
To achieve a better understanding of the dominant loss mechanisms for the rapid dropouts of radiation belt electrons, three distinct radiation belt dropout events observed by Van Allen Probes are comprehensively investigated. For each event, observations of the pitch angle distribution of electron fluxes and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are analyzed to determine the effects of atmospheric precipitation loss due to pitch angle scattering induced by EMIC waves. Last closed drift shells (LCDS) and magnetopause standoff position are obtained to evaluate the effects of magnetopause shadowing loss. Evolution of electron phase space density (PSD) versus L* profiles and the μ and K (first and second adiabatic invariants) dependence of the electron PSD drops are calculated to further analyze the dominant loss mechanisms at different L*. Here, our findings suggest that these radiation belt dropouts can be classified into distinct classes in terms of dominant loss mechanisms: magnetopause shadowing dominant, EMIC wave scattering dominant, and combination of both mechanisms. Different from previous understanding, our results show that magnetopause shadowing can deplete electrons at L* < 4, while EMIC waves can efficiently scatter electrons at L* > 4. Compared to the magnetopause standoff position, it is more reliable to use LCDS to evaluate the impact of magnetopause shadowing. Finally, the evolution of electron PSD versus L* profile and the μ, K dependence of electron PSD drops can provide critical and credible clues regarding the mechanisms responsible for electron losses at different L* over the outer radiation belt.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA); National Natural Science Foundation of China; National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1394980
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1396068
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-17-24736
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 122; ISSN 2169-9380
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Understanding the Driver of Energetic Electron Precipitation Using Coordinated Multisatellite Measurements journal July 2018
A Statistical Survey of Radiation Belt Dropouts Observed by Van Allen Probes journal August 2018
Resonant Scattering of Near‐Equatorially Mirroring Electrons by Landau Resonance With H + Band EMIC Waves journal October 2018
Investigating Loss of Relativistic Electrons Associated With EMIC Waves at Low L Values on 22 June 2015 journal June 2019
Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts: From Discovery to the Van Allen Probes Era journal November 2019
Calculation of Last Closed Drift Shells for the 2013 GEM Radiation Belt Challenge Events journal November 2018
On the Initial Enhancement of Energetic Electrons and the Innermost Plasmapause Locations: Coronal Mass Ejection‐Driven Storm Periods journal November 2018
Global‐Scale ULF Waves Associated With SSC Accelerate Magnetospheric Ultrarelativistic Electrons journal March 2019
What Fraction of the Outer Radiation Belt Relativistic Electron Flux at L ≈ 3‐4.5 Was Lost to the Atmosphere During the Dropout Event of the St. Patrick's Day Storm of 2015? journal November 2019
Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling journal February 2019
Magnetic Local Time‐Resolved Examination of Radiation Belt Dynamics during High‐Speed Solar Wind Speed‐Triggered Substorm Clusters journal September 2019
Direct Observation of Subrelativistic Electron Precipitation Potentially Driven by EMIC Waves journal November 2019
Modeling the Magnetopause Shadowing Loss During the June 2015 Dropout Event journal August 2019
Characterization and Evolution of Radiation Belt Electron Energy Spectra Based on the Van Allen Probes Measurements journal June 2019
Storm Time Depletions of Multi‐MeV Radiation Belt Electrons Observed at Different Pitch Angles journal November 2019
How Sudden, Intense Energetic Electron Enhancements Correlate With the Innermost Plasmapause Locations Under Various Solar Wind Drivers and Geomagnetic Conditions journal November 2019