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Title: High-resolution in situ observations of electron precipitation-causing EMIC waves

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4]
  1. Univ. of Otago, Dunedin (New Zealand)
  2. British Antarctic Survey (NERC), Cambridge (United Kingdom)
  3. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)
  4. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are thought to be important drivers of energetic electron losses from the outer radiation belt through precipitation into the atmosphere. While the theoretical possibility of pitch angle scattering-driven losses from these waves has been recognized for more than four decades, there have been limited experimental precipitation observations to support this concept. We have combined satellite-based observations of the characteristics of EMIC waves, with satellite and ground-based observations of the EMIC-induced electron precipitation. In a detailed case study, supplemented by an additional four examples, we are able to constrain for the first time the location, size, and energy range of EMIC-induced electron precipitation inferred from coincident precipitation data and relate them to the EMIC wave frequency, wave power, and ion band of the wave as measured in situ by the Van Allen Probes. As a result, these observations will better constrain modeling into the importance of EMIC wave-particle interactions.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1234904
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--15-27357
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 42; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (16)

Evidence of sub‐MeV EMIC‐driven electron precipitation journal February 2017
The relationship between the plasmapause and outer belt electrons journal September 2016
Nonlinear fundamental and harmonic cyclotron resonant scattering of radiation belt ultrarelativistic electrons by oblique monochromatic EMIC waves journal February 2017
The Role of Localized Compressional Ultra-low Frequency Waves in Energetic Electron Precipitation journal March 2018
A Statistical Study of Spatial Variation of Relativistic Electron Precipitation Energy Spectra With Polar Operational Environmental Satellites journal May 2018
A Distributed Lag Autoregressive Model of Geostationary Relativistic Electron Fluxes: Comparing the Influences of Waves, Seed and Source Electrons, and Solar Wind Inputs journal May 2018
Understanding the Driver of Energetic Electron Precipitation Using Coordinated Multisatellite Measurements journal July 2018
Pitch Angle Scattering and Loss of Radiation Belt Electrons in Broadband Electromagnetic Waves journal September 2018
Temporal and Spatial Correspondence of Pc1/EMIC Waves and Relativistic Electron Precipitations Observed With Ground‐Based Multi‐Instruments on 27 March 2017 journal December 2018
Precipitation of Radiation Belt Electrons by EMIC Waves With Conjugated Observations of NOAA and Van Allen Satellites journal December 2018
Impact of Background Magnetic Field for EMIC Wave-Driven Electron Precipitation journal October 2018
Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts: From Discovery to the Van Allen Probes Era journal November 2019
Pitch Angle Scattering of Sub‐MeV Relativistic Electrons by Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves journal July 2019
Multi‐instrument Observation of Nonlinear EMIC‐Driven Electron Precipitation at sub–MeV Energies journal July 2019
Generation of EMIC Waves and Effects on Particle Precipitation During a Solar Wind Pressure Intensification With B z >0 journal June 2019
Rapid Precipitation of Relativistic Electron by EMIC Rising‐Tone Emissions Observed by the Van Allen Probes journal August 2019