Quantifying the effects of EMIC wave scattering and magnetopause
shadowing in the outer electron radiation belt by means of data
assimilation
Abstract
In this study we investigate two distinct loss mechanisms responsible
for the rapid dropouts of radiation belt electrons by assimilating data
from Van Allen Probes A and B and Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellites (GOES) 13 and 15 into a 3-D diffusion model. In
particular, we examine the respective contribution of electromagnetic
ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave scattering and magnetopause shadowing for
values of the first adiabatic invariant μ ranging from 300 to 3000 MeV
G. We inspect the innovation vector and perform a statistical analysis
to quantitatively assess the effect of both processes as a function of
various geomagnetic indices, solar wind parameters, and radial distance
from the Earth. Our results are in agreement with previous studies that
demonstrated the energy dependence of these two mechanisms. Loss from L*
= 4 to L* = 4.8 is dominated by EMIC wave scattering (μ ≥ 900 MeV G) and
may amount to between 10%/hr to 30%/hr of the maximum value of phase
space density (PSD) over all L shells for fixed first and second
adiabatic invariants. Magnetopause shadowing is shown to deplete
electrons across all energies, mostly between L* = 5 and L* = 6.6,
resulting in loss from 50%/hr to 70%/hr of the maximum PSD. We also
identify a boundary located between L* = 3.5 and L* = 5.2 clearly
separating the regions where each mechanism dominates. Nevertheless,
during times of enhanced geomagnetic activity, both processes can
operate beyond such location and encompass the entire outer radiation
belt.