Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit
Abstract Relativistic electrons cause internal charging on satellites and are a significant space weather hazard. In this study we analyze approximately 20 years of data from the US Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite NS41 to determine the conditions associated with the largest daily averaged...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Space Weather |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW004042 |
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| author | Nigel P. Meredith Thomas E. Cayton Michael D. Cayton Richard B. Horne |
| author_facet | Nigel P. Meredith Thomas E. Cayton Michael D. Cayton Richard B. Horne |
| author_sort | Nigel P. Meredith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Relativistic electrons cause internal charging on satellites and are a significant space weather hazard. In this study we analyze approximately 20 years of data from the US Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite NS41 to determine the conditions associated with the largest daily averaged fluxes of E = 2.0 MeV relativistic electrons. The largest flux events at L = 4.5 and L = 6.5 were associated with moderate to strong CME‐driven geomagnetic storms. However, the majority of the 50 largest flux events at L = 4.5 (30 out of 50) and L = 6.5 (37 out of 50) were associated with high speed solar wind streams from coronal holes. Both solar drivers are thus very important for relativistic electron flux enhancements in GPS orbit. The 1 in 3 year flux level was not exceeded following any of the 15 largest geomagnetic storms as monitored by the Dst index, showing that the largest geomagnetic storms, most often associated with extreme space weather, do not result in significantly larger relativistic electron flux events in GPS orbit. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6643c18049874c73abf570972f2d601d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1542-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Space Weather |
| spelling | doaj-art-6643c18049874c73abf570972f2d601d2025-02-01T08:10:32ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902024-12-012212n/an/a10.1029/2024SW004042Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS OrbitNigel P. Meredith0Thomas E. Cayton1Michael D. Cayton2Richard B. Horne3British Antarctic Survey Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge EnglandRio Rancho NM USARio Rancho NM USABritish Antarctic Survey Natural Environment Research Council Cambridge EnglandAbstract Relativistic electrons cause internal charging on satellites and are a significant space weather hazard. In this study we analyze approximately 20 years of data from the US Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite NS41 to determine the conditions associated with the largest daily averaged fluxes of E = 2.0 MeV relativistic electrons. The largest flux events at L = 4.5 and L = 6.5 were associated with moderate to strong CME‐driven geomagnetic storms. However, the majority of the 50 largest flux events at L = 4.5 (30 out of 50) and L = 6.5 (37 out of 50) were associated with high speed solar wind streams from coronal holes. Both solar drivers are thus very important for relativistic electron flux enhancements in GPS orbit. The 1 in 3 year flux level was not exceeded following any of the 15 largest geomagnetic storms as monitored by the Dst index, showing that the largest geomagnetic storms, most often associated with extreme space weather, do not result in significantly larger relativistic electron flux events in GPS orbit.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW004042outer radiation beltGPS orbitrelativistic electronsgeomagnetic storms |
| spellingShingle | Nigel P. Meredith Thomas E. Cayton Michael D. Cayton Richard B. Horne Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit Space Weather outer radiation belt GPS orbit relativistic electrons geomagnetic storms |
| title | Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit |
| title_full | Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit |
| title_fullStr | Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit |
| title_short | Strong Relativistic Electron Flux Events in GPS Orbit |
| title_sort | strong relativistic electron flux events in gps orbit |
| topic | outer radiation belt GPS orbit relativistic electrons geomagnetic storms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW004042 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nigelpmeredith strongrelativisticelectronfluxeventsingpsorbit AT thomasecayton strongrelativisticelectronfluxeventsingpsorbit AT michaeldcayton strongrelativisticelectronfluxeventsingpsorbit AT richardbhorne strongrelativisticelectronfluxeventsingpsorbit |