Storm/substorm signatures in the outer belt

Conference · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:296782

Korth, A; Friedel, R H.W.; Mouikis, C ^[1]; Fennell, J F ^[2]

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1. Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Aeronomie, Lindau (Germany)
2. Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (United States)

The response of the ring current region is compared for periods of storm and substorm activity, with an attempt to isolate the contributions of both processes. The authors investigate CRRES particle data in an overview format that allows the display of long-term variations of the outer radiation belt. They compare the evolution of the ring current population to indicators of storm (Dst) and substorm (AE) activity and examine compositional changes. Substorm activity leads to the intensification of the ring current at higher L (L {approximately} 6) and lower ring current energies compared to storms (L {approximately} 4). The O{sup +}/H{sup +} ratio during substorms remains low, near 10%, but is much enhanced during storms (can exceed 100%). They conclude that repeated substorms with an AE {approximately} 900 nT lead to a {Delta}Dst of {approximately} 30 nT, but do not contribute to Dst during storm main phase as substorm injections do not form a symmetric ring current during such disturbed times.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 296782
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--98-2123; CONF-9805129--; ON: DE99000756
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
IONIC COMPOSITION
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC STORMS
RADIATION BELTS
SATELLITES