Understanding the mechanisms of radiation belt dropouts observed by Van Allen Probes
Abstract
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 LCDSmore »
- Authors:
-
- Wuhan Univ. (China). School of Electronic Information, Dept. of Space Physics; West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Lab. for Atmospheric and Space Physics
- Wuhan Univ. (China). School of Electronic Information, Dept. of Space Physics
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1394980
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1396068
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-17-24736
Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9380
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396; AGS-1613081; NNX15AW06G; 41674163; 41474141; 41204120
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 122; Journal Issue: 10; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-9380
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; Heliospheric and Magnetospheric Physics
Citation Formats
Xiang, Zheng, Tu, Weichao, Li, Xinlin, Ni, Binbin, Morley, Steven Karl, and Baker, D. N. Understanding the mechanisms of radiation belt dropouts observed by Van Allen Probes. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1002/2017JA024487.
Xiang, Zheng, Tu, Weichao, Li, Xinlin, Ni, Binbin, Morley, Steven Karl, & Baker, D. N. Understanding the mechanisms of radiation belt dropouts observed by Van Allen Probes. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA024487
Xiang, Zheng, Tu, Weichao, Li, Xinlin, Ni, Binbin, Morley, Steven Karl, and Baker, D. N. Wed .
"Understanding the mechanisms of radiation belt dropouts observed by Van Allen Probes". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA024487. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1394980.
@article{osti_1394980,
title = {Understanding the mechanisms of radiation belt dropouts observed by Van Allen Probes},
author = {Xiang, Zheng and Tu, Weichao and Li, Xinlin and Ni, Binbin and Morley, Steven Karl and Baker, D. N.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1002/2017JA024487},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics},
number = 10,
volume = 122,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Wed Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science
Works referenced in this record:
Competition between outer zone electron scattering by plasmaspheric hiss and magnetosonic waves: COMPETITION BETWEEN HISS AND MS WAVES
journal, April 2017
- Ni, Binbin; Hua, Man; Zhou, Ruoxian
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 44, Issue 8
Statistical distribution of EMIC wave spectra: Observations from Van Allen Probes: STATISTICS ON EMIC WAVE SPECTRA
journal, December 2016
- Zhang, X. -J.; Li, W.; Thorne, R. M.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 43, Issue 24
Radiation Belt Environment model: Application to space weather nowcasting: RADIATION BELT MODEL AND SPACE WEATHER
journal, January 2008
- Fok, Mei-Ching; Horne, Richard B.; Meredith, Nigel P.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 113, Issue A3
Event-specific chorus wave and electron seed population models in DREAM3D using the Van Allen Probes: Tu et al.: Event-specific chorus and seed electrons
journal, March 2014
- Tu, Weichao; Cunningham, G. S.; Chen, Y.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 41, Issue 5
Dynamics of Magnetically Trapped Particles
book, January 2014
- Roederer, Juan G.; Zhang, Hui
- Astrophysics and Space Science Library
Modeling the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere during strong geomagnetic storms
journal, January 2005
- Tsyganenko, N. A.
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, Issue A3
Long term measurements of radiation belts by SAMPEX and their variations
journal, October 2001
- Li, Xinlin; Baker, D. N.; Kanekal, S. G.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 28, Issue 20
Earth’s magnetosphere and outer radiation belt under sub-Alfvénic solar wind
journal, October 2016
- Lugaz, Noé; Farrugia, Charles J.; Huang, Chia-Lin
- Nature Communications, Vol. 7, Issue 1
Coordinates for mapping the distribution of magnetically trapped particles
journal, November 1961
- McIlwain, Carl E.
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 66, Issue 11
THEMIS observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave occurrence: Dependence on AE, SYMH, and solar wind dynamic pressure: THEMIS EMIC WAVE DISTRIBUTION
journal, October 2012
- Usanova, M. E.; Mann, I. R.; Bortnik, J.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 117, Issue A10
Evaluation of candidate geomagnetic field models for IGRF-11
journal, October 2010
- Finlay, C. C.; Maus, S.; Beggan, C. D.
- Earth, Planets and Space, Vol. 62, Issue 10
On the calculation of electric diffusion coefficient of radiation belt electrons with in situ electric field measurements by THEMIS: Electric Radial Diffusion Coefficient
journal, February 2016
- Liu, Wenlong; Tu, Weichao; Li, Xinlin
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 43, Issue 3
Multisatellite determination of the relativistic electron phase space density at geosynchronous orbit: Methodology and results during geomagnetically quiet times
journal, January 2005
- Chen, Y.
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, Issue A10
Inferring electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave intensity from low altitude POES proton flux measurements: A detailed case study with conjugate Van Allen Probes observations
journal, March 2017
- Zhang, Yang; Shi, Run; Ni, Binbin
- Advances in Space Research, Vol. 59, Issue 6
Modeling the radiation belt electrons with radial diffusion driven by the solar wind: MODELING THE RADIATION BELT ELECTRONS
journal, October 2005
- Barker, A. B.; Li, X.; Selesnick, R. S.
- Space Weather, Vol. 3, Issue 10
Singular value decomposition methods for wave propagation analysis: SVD METHODS FOR WAVE PROPAGATION ANALYSIS
journal, February 2003
- Santolík, O.; Parrot, M.; Lefeuvre, F.
- Radio Science, Vol. 38, Issue 1
The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) Instruments Aboard the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spacecraft
journal, June 2013
- Blake, J. B.; Carranza, P. A.; Claudepierre, S. G.
- Space Science Reviews, Vol. 179, Issue 1-4
The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) on RBSP
journal, June 2013
- Kletzing, C. A.; Kurth, W. S.; Acuna, M.
- Space Science Reviews, Vol. 179, Issue 1-4
The Global Positioning System constellation as a space weather monitor: Comparison of electron measurements with Van Allen Probes data: GPS AS SPACE WEATHER MONITOR
journal, February 2016
- Morley, Steven K.; Sullivan, John P.; Henderson, Michael G.
- Space Weather, Vol. 14, Issue 2
Convective growth rate of ion cyclotron waves in a H + −He + and H + −He + −O + plasma
journal, January 1983
- Gomberoff, L.; Neira, R.
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 88, Issue A3
Phase Space Density matching of relativistic electrons using the Van Allen Probes: REPT results
journal, September 2013
- Morley, S. K.; Henderson, M. G.; Reeves, G. D.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 40, Issue 18
Observation of two distinct, rapid loss mechanisms during the 20 November 2003 radiation belt dropout event
journal, January 2006
- Bortnik, J.; Thorne, R. M.; O'Brien, T. P.
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 111, Issue A12
Storm-dependent radiation belt electron dynamics: RADIATION BELT ELECTRON DYNAMICS
journal, February 2009
- Tu, Weichao; Li, Xinlin; Chen, Yue
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 114, Issue A2
Explaining sudden losses of outer radiation belt electrons during geomagnetic storms
journal, January 2012
- Turner, Drew L.; Shprits, Yuri; Hartinger, Michael
- Nature Physics, Vol. 8, Issue 3
Multisatellite observations of the outer zone electron variation during the November 3–4, 1993, magnetic storm
journal, January 1997
- Li, Xinlin; Baker, D. N.; Temerin, M.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 102, Issue A7
Multi‐MeV electron loss in the heart of the radiation belts
journal, February 2017
- Shprits, Yuri Y.; Kellerman, Adam; Aseev, Nikita
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 44, Issue 3
Multi-satellite simultaneous observations of magnetopause and atmospheric losses of radiation belt electrons during an intense solar wind dynamic pressure pulse
journal, January 2016
- Xiang, Zheng; Ni, Binbin; Zhou, Chen
- Annales Geophysicae, Vol. 34, Issue 5
Outer radiation belt boundary location relative to the magnetopause: Implications for magnetopause shadowing: BRIEF REPORT
journal, June 2011
- Matsumura, C.; Miyoshi, Y.; Seki, K.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 116, Issue A6
Alfvén wings at Earth's magnetosphere under strong interplanetary magnetic fields
journal, January 2007
- Ridley, A. J.
- Annales Geophysicae, Vol. 25, Issue 2
A new functional form to study the solar wind control of the magnetopause size and shape
journal, May 1997
- Shue, J. -H.; Chao, J. K.; Fu, H. C.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 102, Issue A5
Radiation belt dynamics: The importance of wave-particle interactions: FRONTIER
journal, November 2010
- Thorne, Richard Mansergh
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 37, Issue 22
Reanalyses of the radiation belt electron phase space density using nearly equatorial CRRES and polar-orbiting Akebono satellite observations: REANALYSES OF PHASE SPACE DENSITY
journal, May 2009
- Ni, Binbin; Shprits, Yuri; Nagai, Tsugunobu
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 114, Issue A5
The energization of relativistic electrons in the outer Van Allen radiation belt
journal, July 2007
- Chen, Yue; Reeves, Geoffrey D.; Friedel, Reiner H. W.
- Nature Physics, Vol. 3, Issue 9
Quantification of the precipitation loss of radiation belt electrons observed by SAMPEX: LOSS OF RADIATION BELT ELECTRONS
journal, July 2010
- Tu, Weichao; Selesnick, Richard; Li, Xinlin
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 115, Issue A7
Electron Acceleration in the Heart of the Van Allen Radiation Belts
journal, July 2013
- Reeves, G. D.; Spence, H. E.; Henderson, M. G.
- Science, Vol. 341, Issue 6149
Quantifying radial diffusion coefficients of radiation belt electrons based on global MHD simulation and spacecraft measurements: QUANTIFY RADIAL DIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS
journal, October 2012
- Tu, Weichao; Elkington, Scot R.; Li, Xinlin
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 117, Issue A10
Dynamics of Geomagnetically Trapped Radiation
book, January 1970
- Roederer, J. G.
- Physics and Chemistry in Space
Acceleration and loss of relativistic electrons during geomagnetic storms: ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF RELATIVISTIC ELECTRONS
journal, May 2003
- Reeves, G. D.; McAdams, K. L.; Friedel, R. H. W.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 30, Issue 10
Wave-induced loss of ultra-relativistic electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts
journal, September 2016
- Shprits, Yuri Y.; Drozdov, Alexander Y.; Spasojevic, Maria
- Nature Communications, Vol. 7, Issue 1
A rapid, global and prolonged electron radiation belt dropout observed with the Global Positioning System constellation: FAST RADIATION BELT LOSSES
journal, March 2010
- Morley, S. K.; Friedel, R. H. W.; Cayton, T. E.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 37, Issue 6
Outward radial diffusion driven by losses at magnetopause
journal, January 2006
- Shprits, Y. Y.; Thorne, R. M.; Friedel, R.
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 111, Issue A11
Science Goals and Overview of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma (ECT) Suite on NASA’s Van Allen Probes Mission
journal, October 2013
- Spence, H. E.; Reeves, G. D.; Baker, D. N.
- Space Science Reviews, Vol. 179, Issue 1-4
Highly relativistic radiation belt electron acceleration, transport, and loss: Large solar storm events of March and June 2015: HIGHLY RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON DYNAMICS
journal, July 2016
- Baker, D. N.; Jaynes, A. N.; Kanekal, S. G.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 121, Issue 7
Bounce resonance scattering of radiation belt electrons by H + band EMIC waves
journal, February 2017
- Cao, Xing; Ni, Binbin; Summers, Danny
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 2
Simulations of the Earth's magnetosphere embedded in sub-Alfvénic solar wind on 24 and 25 May 2002: SUB-ALFVÉNIC SOLAR WIND AT EARTH
journal, October 2015
- Chané, E.; Raeder, J.; Saur, J.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 10
Energetic, relativistic, and ultrarelativistic electrons: Comparison of long-term VERB code simulations with Van Allen Probes measurements: LONG-TERM VERB CODE SIMULATIONS
journal, May 2015
- Drozdov, A. Y.; Shprits, Y. Y.; Orlova, K. G.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 5
The effect of different solar wind parameters upon significant relativistic electron flux dropouts in the magnetosphere
journal, June 2015
- Gao, Xinliang; Li, Wen; Bortnik, Jacob
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 6
Simulation of a rapid dropout event for highly relativistic electrons with the RBE model: Dropout Simulation with the RBE Model
journal, May 2016
- Kang, S. -B.; Fok, M. -C.; Glocer, A.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 121, Issue 5
Resonant scattering and resultant pitch angle evolution of relativistic electrons by plasmaspheric hiss: RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON SCATTERING BY HISS
journal, December 2013
- Ni, Binbin; Bortnik, Jacob; Thorne, Richard M.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 118, Issue 12
Dynamic responses of the Earth's radiation belts during periods of solar wind dynamic pressure pulse based on normalized superposed epoch analysis
journal, September 2016
- Ni, Binbin; Xiang, Zheng; Gu, Xudong
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 121, Issue 9
Resonant scattering of outer zone relativistic electrons by multiband EMIC waves and resultant electron loss time scales
journal, September 2015
- Ni, Binbin; Cao, Xing; Zou, Zhengyang
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 9
The occurrence and wave properties of H + ‐, He + ‐, and O + ‐band EMIC waves observed by the Van Allen Probes
journal, September 2015
- Saikin, A. A.; Zhang, J. ‐C.; Allen, R. C.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 9
Simultaneous event‐specific estimates of transport, loss, and source rates for relativistic outer radiation belt electrons
journal, March 2017
- Schiller, Q.; Tu, W.; Ali, A. F.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 3
Outer Radiation Belt Flux Dropouts: Current Understanding and Unresolved Questions
book, January 2012
- Turner, D. L.; Morley, S. K.; Miyoshi, Y.
- Dynamics of the Earth's Radiation Belts and Inner Magnetosphere
On the cause and extent of outer radiation belt losses during the 30 September 2012 dropout event: Effective ranges of outer belt dropouts
journal, March 2014
- Turner, D. L.; Angelopoulos, V.; Morley, S. K.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 119, Issue 3
Competing source and loss mechanisms due to wave-particle interactions in Earth's outer radiation belt during the 30 September to 3 October 2012 geomagnetic storm: COMPETING WAVE-PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
journal, March 2014
- Turner, D. L.; Angelopoulos, V.; Li, W.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 119, Issue 3
Direct evidence for EMIC wave scattering of relativistic electrons in space: EMIC-Driven Electron Losses in Space
journal, July 2016
- Zhang, X. -J.; Li, W.; Ma, Q.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 121, Issue 7
Physical mechanism causing rapid changes in ultrarelativistic electron pitch angle distributions right after a shock arrival: Evaluation of an electron dropout event
journal, September 2016
- Zhang, X. ‐J.; Li, W.; Thorne, R. M.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 121, Issue 9
Works referencing / citing this record:
Resonant Scattering of Near‐Equatorially Mirroring Electrons by Landau Resonance With H + Band EMIC Waves
journal, October 2018
- Fu, Song; Ni, Binbin; Lou, Yuequn
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 20
Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts: From Discovery to the Van Allen Probes Era
journal, November 2019
- Li, W.; Hudson, M. K.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 11
On the Initial Enhancement of Energetic Electrons and the Innermost Plasmapause Locations: Coronal Mass Ejection‐Driven Storm Periods
journal, November 2018
- Khoo, Leng Ying; Li, Xinlin; Zhao, Hong
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 123, Issue 11
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
- Gokani, Sneha A.; Kosch, Mike; Clilverd, Mark
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 11
Direct Observation of Subrelativistic Electron Precipitation Potentially Driven by EMIC Waves
journal, November 2019
- Capannolo, L.; Li, W.; Ma, Q.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 22
Modeling the Magnetopause Shadowing Loss During the June 2015 Dropout Event
journal, August 2019
- Tu, Weichao; Xiang, Zheng; Morley, S. K.
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 16
Characterization and Evolution of Radiation Belt Electron Energy Spectra Based on the Van Allen Probes Measurements
journal, June 2019
- Zhao, H.; Johnston, W. R.; Baker, D. N.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 6
How Sudden, Intense Energetic Electron Enhancements Correlate With the Innermost Plasmapause Locations Under Various Solar Wind Drivers and Geomagnetic Conditions
journal, November 2019
- Khoo, L. ‐Y.; Li, X.; Zhao, H.
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 11