Storm-time depletions of multi-MeV radiation belt electrons observed at
different pitch angles
Abstract
During geomagnetic storms, the rapid depletion of the high-energy
(several MeV) outer radiation belt electrons is a result of loss to the
interplanetary medium through the magnetopause, outward radial diffusion
and loss to the atmosphere due to wave-particle interactions. We have
performed a statistical study of 110 storms using pitch angle resolved
electron flux measurement from the Van Allen Probes mission and found
that inside of the radiation belt (L*=3-5) the number of storms that
result in depletion electrons with equatorial pitch angle α=30 is higher
than number of storms that result in depletion of electrons with
equatorial pitch angle α=75. We conclude that this is an indication of
electron scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves. At the outer
edge of the radiation belt (L* >= 5.2) the number of storms
that result in depletion is also large (~40-50%),
supporting the significance of the magnetopause shadowing effect and
outward radial transport.