Radiation belt electron dynamics at low L (<4): Van Allen Probes era versus previous two solar cycles
Xinlin Li,Daniel N. Baker,Hong Zhao,Kun Zhang,Allison Jaynes,Quintin Schiller,Shrikanth Kanekal,J. B. Blake,M. Temerin +8 more
TLDR
In this article, the authors examined solar wind speed, the geomagnetic storm index (Dst), >2 MeV electrons at geostationary orbit, and ~2.5 MeV electrons across various L-shells measured by SAMPEX in low Earth orbit (LEO) and by the Van Allen Probes/Relativistic Electron and Proton Telescope (REPT) in a geo-transfer-like orbit.Abstract:
Long term (>2 solar cycles) measurements reveal that MeV electron fluxes, solar wind speed, and geomagnetic activity have been extremely low during this current solar cycle, including years before and during the Van Allen Probes era. This study examines solar wind speed, the geomagnetic storm index (Dst), >2 MeV electrons at geostationary orbit, and ~2 MeV electrons across various L-shells measured by Solar Anomalous Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) in low Earth orbit (LEO) and by the Van Allen Probes/Relativistic Electron and Proton Telescope (REPT) in a geo-transfer-like orbit; the latter measurements are normalized to LEO based on comparison with Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment (CSSWE)/Relativistic Electron and Proton Telescope integrated little experiment (REPTile) measurements in LEO. The average ratio of REPTile/REPT varies in a systematic manner with L, ~16% at L = 2.7, decreasing with L and reaching ~0.7% at L = 4.7, and increasing again with L though with greater uncertainty. We show that there have been no ~2 MeV electron enhancements inside L ~ 2.6 since 2006, prior to which numerous penetrations of ~2 MeV electrons into L < 2.5 were measured during periods of stronger solar wind conditions (in terms of high speed solar wind, magnitude of interplanetary magnetic field, B, and a sustained southward Bz) and thus stronger geomagnetic activity. We conclude that results from the Van Allen Probes, which have been providing the finest measurements but in operation during a quiet solar activity period, may not be representative of radiation belt dynamics, particularly for the inner edge of the outer belt, during other solar cycle phases.read more
Citations
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Coronal mass ejections and their sheath regions in interplanetary space
TL;DR: This review focuses on the current understanding of observational signatures and properties of ICMEs and the associated sheath regions based on five decades of studies, and specially emphasize the different origin, properties and consequences of the sheaths andICMEs.
Journal ArticleDOI
Particle Dynamics in the Earth's Radiation Belts: Review of Current Research and Open Questions
Jean-Francois Ripoll,Seth G. Claudepierre,Seth G. Claudepierre,A. Y. Ukhorskiy,C. A. Colpitts,Xinlin Li,J. F. Fennell,Chris Crabtree +7 more
Journal ArticleDOI
Multiyear Measurements of Radiation Belt Electrons: Acceleration, Transport, and Loss
TL;DR: This work portrays the radiation belt acceleration, transport, and loss characteristics over a wide range of geomagnetic events and highlights features seen repeatedly in the data (three‐belt structures, “impenetrable” barrier properties, and radial diffusion signatures) in the context of acceleration and loss mechanisms.
Journal ArticleDOI
An Empirical Model of Radiation Belt Electron Pitch Angle Distributions Based On Van Allen Probes Measurements
Hong Zhao,R. H. W. Friedel,Yu Chen,Geoffrey D. Reeves,Daniel N. Baker,Xinlin Li,Allison Jaynes,Shrikanth Kanekal,Seth G. Claudepierre,J. F. Fennell,J. B. Blake,Harlan E. Spence +11 more
TL;DR: In this article, an empirical model of radiation belt electron equatorial pitch angle distribution (PAD) is constructed based on over 4 years of Van Allen Probes measurements, which provides the statistical PADs as a function of L-shell (L = 1-6), magnetic local time, electron energy, and geomagnetic activity (represented by the Dst index).
Journal ArticleDOI
The Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope (REPT) Investigation: Design, Operational Properties, and Science Highlights
Daniel N. Baker,Shrikanth Kanekal,V. Hoxie,Xinlin Li,Allison Jaynes,Hong Zhao,Scot R. Elkington,John C. Foster,R. S. Selesnick,Binbin Ni,Harlan E. Spence,Rachel Filwett +11 more
TL;DR: The Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope (REPT) instruments were designed to measure ∼2 to >18 MeV electrons and ∼18 to > 115 MeV protons as part of the science payloads onboard the dual Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) spacecraft.
References
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Science Objectives and Rationale for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission
TL;DR: The NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission as discussed by the authors uses two spacecraft making in situ measurements for at least 2 years in nearly the same highly elliptical, low inclination orbits (1.1×5.8 RE, 10∘).
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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
Harlan E. Spence,Geoffrey D. Reeves,Daniel N. Baker,J. B. Blake,M. Bolton,Sebastien Bourdarie,Anthony A. Chan,Seth G. Claudepierre,J. H. Clemmons,J. P. Cravens,Scot R. Elkington,J. F. Fennell,Reiner Friedel,Herbert O. Funsten,Jerry Goldstein,Janet C. Green,A. A. Guthrie,Michael G. Henderson,Richard B. Horne,Mary K. Hudson,J.-M. Jahn,Vania K. Jordanova,Shrikanth Kanekal,B. W. Klatt,B. W. Klatt,Brian A. Larsen,Xinlin Li,Elizabeth MacDonald,Ian R. Mann,J. T. Niehof,T. P. O'Brien,Terrance Onsager,D. Salvaggio,Ruth M. Skoug,S. Smith,L. L. Suther,Michelle F. Thomsen,Richard M. Thorne +37 more
TL;DR: The Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP)-Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma (ECT) suite contains an innovative complement of particle instruments to ensure the highest quality measurements ever made in the inner magnetosphere and radiation belts as mentioned in this paper.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope (REPT) Instrument on Board the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spacecraft: Characterization of Earth’s Radiation Belt High-Energy Particle Populations
Daniel N. Baker,Shrikanth Kanekal,V. Hoxie,Susan N. Batiste,M. Bolton,Xinlin Li,Scot R. Elkington,S. Monk,R. Reukauf,S. Steg,J. Westfall,C. Belting,B. Bolton,D. Braun,B. Cervelli,K. Hubbell,M. Kien,S. Knappmiller,S. Wade,Bret Lamprecht,K. Stevens,J. Wallace,A. Yehle,Harlan E. Spence,R. H. W. Friedel +24 more
TL;DR: The Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope (REPT) as mentioned in this paper was designed for the Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) pair of spacecraft to measure high-energy electrons (up to ∼20 MeV) with excellent sensitivity and also measured magnetospheric and solar protons to energies well above E=100 MeV.
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