Is Kp the Best Magnetic Activity Parameterization for Radial Diffusion
Models in the Outer Radiation Belt?
Abstract
Specifying radial diffusion magnitude is one of the main requirements
for physics-based radiation belt models. Yet, radial diffusion
quantification remains uncertain. The most commonly used
parameterization for the logarithm of radial diffusion magnitude is a
linear function of a magnetic index, Kp, with a coarse time resolution
of three hours. This work presents alternate linear parameterizations of
similar quality for the logarithm of radial diffusion magnitude,
considering other magnetic indices and solar wind parameters. Using a
time series for the logarithm of electromagnetic radial diffusion
magnitude with a 1-minute time resolution, we investigate linear
relationships with magnetic indices such as Kp, Hp60, Hp30, AE, SymH,
and Dst and solar wind parameters such as solar wind dynamic pressure,
solar wind speed and the north‐south component of the interplanetary
magnetic field. We find that Kp, Hp60, Hp30, and solar dynamical
pressure yield the strongest linear correlation with the logarithm of
radial diffusion magnitude. We also provide simple, linear models of the
logarithm of radial diffusion magnitude that best fit the time series.
This work contributes to improving the time resolution for radial
diffusion parameterization and radiation belt models. In particular, it
suggests that Hp60 and Hp30 could also be used in place of Kp in the
most commonly used Kp‐driven parameterization for radiation belt radial
diffusion.