Quiet-time electron precipitation at L = 4 in the South Atlantic anomaly

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA01p00189· OSTI ID:6034829

Benbrook, J R; Bering, III, E A; Leverenz, H; Roeder, J L; Sheldon, W R

On January 12, 1978, at 1000 UT, a Superarcas sounding rocket was launched from Siple Station, Antarctica, (L = 4.1, 76/sup 0/S, 84/sup 0/W) during a prolonged geomagnetically quiet period (Kp = 1+) with very low VLF activity. The parachuted payload observed a moderately intense charged particle flux that smoothly decreased as the payload descended through the atmosphere. These data have been carefully extrapolated to zero depth in the atmosphere for comparison with both low-altitude satellite measurements and theoretical predictions of the precipitating flux in the region of the South Atlantic anomaly. The integrated flux was found to agree reasonably well with both the satellite measurements and prediction. The calculated spectrum was found to be much softer than typical trapped electron spectra reported from satellite measurements after extended periods of low magnetic activity. This result is consistent with experimental observations that the lifetime of outer belt particles increases with energy.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77004
• OSTI ID: 6034829
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 88:A1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ATLANTIC OCEAN
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ENERGY SPECTRA
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
TRAPPED ELECTRONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FUNCTIONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SEAS
SPECTRA
SURFACE WATERS
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena