Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts
Abstract Accurately modeling the evolution of the electron radiation belts within the plasmasphere represents both an imperative goal for space weather forecasting and a great challenge. Combining previously developed approximate analytical expressions of electron lifetimes with recent statistical m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072987 |
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| author | D. Mourenas Q. Ma A. V. Artemyev W. Li |
| author_facet | D. Mourenas Q. Ma A. V. Artemyev W. Li |
| author_sort | D. Mourenas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Accurately modeling the evolution of the electron radiation belts within the plasmasphere represents both an imperative goal for space weather forecasting and a great challenge. Combining previously developed approximate analytical expressions of electron lifetimes with recent statistical models of plasma density, ULF, whistler‐mode, and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, we demonstrate that geomagnetic activity and plasma density actually govern the inner structure of the radiation belts through several simple analytical scaling laws when Kp < 3. Many of the observed characteristic features of electron fluxes in the energy versus L shell parameter space are straightforwardly explained. In particular, the upper energy limit of significant electron fluxes at L = 1.5 is estimated as ∼1 MeV in agreement with recent satellite observations. This approximate analytical model represents a very simple and powerful tool for exploring and better understanding the complex variations of the inner structure of the radiation belts with geomagnetic activity during relatively quiet times. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c91abe04ec4d49dcbc8d7c76da02adde |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-c91abe04ec4d49dcbc8d7c76da02adde2025-08-20T01:51:46ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072017-04-014473009301810.1002/2017GL072987Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation beltsD. Mourenas0Q. Ma1A. V. Artemyev2W. Li3CEA, DAM DIF Arpajon FranceDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California Los Angeles California USAInstitute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics University of California Los Angeles California USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California Los Angeles California USAAbstract Accurately modeling the evolution of the electron radiation belts within the plasmasphere represents both an imperative goal for space weather forecasting and a great challenge. Combining previously developed approximate analytical expressions of electron lifetimes with recent statistical models of plasma density, ULF, whistler‐mode, and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, we demonstrate that geomagnetic activity and plasma density actually govern the inner structure of the radiation belts through several simple analytical scaling laws when Kp < 3. Many of the observed characteristic features of electron fluxes in the energy versus L shell parameter space are straightforwardly explained. In particular, the upper energy limit of significant electron fluxes at L = 1.5 is estimated as ∼1 MeV in agreement with recent satellite observations. This approximate analytical model represents a very simple and powerful tool for exploring and better understanding the complex variations of the inner structure of the radiation belts with geomagnetic activity during relatively quiet times.https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072987radiation beltstrapped electronshissEMICplasmasphere |
| spellingShingle | D. Mourenas Q. Ma A. V. Artemyev W. Li Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts Geophysical Research Letters radiation belts trapped electrons hiss EMIC plasmasphere |
| title | Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts |
| title_full | Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts |
| title_fullStr | Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts |
| title_short | Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts |
| title_sort | scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts |
| topic | radiation belts trapped electrons hiss EMIC plasmasphere |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072987 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dmourenas scalinglawsfortheinnerstructureoftheradiationbelts AT qma scalinglawsfortheinnerstructureoftheradiationbelts AT avartemyev scalinglawsfortheinnerstructureoftheradiationbelts AT wli scalinglawsfortheinnerstructureoftheradiationbelts |