Nonstorm time dynamics of electron radiation belts observed by the Van Allen Probes

Authors

Zhenpeng Su, University of Science and Technology of China
Fuliang Xiao, Changsha University of Electric PowerFollow
Huinan Zheng, University of Science and Technology of China
Zhaoguo He, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Hui Zhu, University of Science and Technology of China
Min Zhang, University of Science and Technology of China
Chao Shen, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Yuming Wang, University of Science and Technology of ChinaFollow
Shui Wang, University of Science and Technology of China
C A. Kletzing, University of IowaFollow
W. S. Kurth, University of IowaFollow
G. B. Hospodarsky, University of IowaFollow
Harlan E. Spence, University of New HampshireFollow
Geoffrey Reeves, Los Alamos National LaboratoryFollow
H. O. Funsten, Los Alamos National LaboratoryFollow
J. B. Blake, Aerospace CorporationFollow
D. N. Baker, University of Colorado BoulderFollow

Abstract

Abstract

Storm time electron radiation belt dynamics have been widely investigated for many years. Here we present a rarely reported nonstorm time event of electron radiation belt evolution observed by the Van Allen Probes during 21-24 February 2013. Within 2 days, a new belt centering around L=5.8 formed and gradually merged with the original outer belt, with the enhancement of relativistic electron fluxes by a factor of up to 50. Strong chorus waves (with power spectral density up to 10^-4nT²/Hz) occurred in the region L>5. Taking into account the local acceleration driven by these chorus waves, the two-dimensional STEERB can approximately reproduce the observed energy spectrums at the center of the new belt. These results clearly illustrate the complexity of electron radiation belt behaviors and the importance of chorus-driven local acceleration even during the nonstorm times.

Department

Physics

Publication Date

1-2014

Journal Title

Geophysical Research Letters

Publisher

American Geophysical Union Publications

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/2013GL058912

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Su, Z., et al. (2014), Nonstorm timedynamics of electron radiation beltsobserved by the Van Allen Probes,Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 229–235,doi:10.1002/2013GL058912.

Rights

©2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.