Storm/Substorm Signatures in the Outer Radiation Belt

Abstract

The response of the ring current region is compared for periods of storm and substorm activity, with an attempt to isolate the contributions of both processes. We investigate CRRES particle data in an overview format that allows the display of long-term variations of the outer radiation belt. We compare the evolution of the ring current population to indicators of storm (Dst) and substorm (AE) activity and examine compositional changes. Substorm activity leads to the intensification of the ring current at higher L (L approx. 6) and lower ring current energies compared to storms (L approx. 4). The O(+)H(+) ratio during substorms remains low, near 10%, but is much enhanced during storms (can exceed 100%). We conclude that repeated substorms with an AE approx. 900 nT lead to a deltaDst of approx. 30 nT, but do not contribute to Dst during storm main phase as substorm injections do not form a symmetric ring current during such disturbed times.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 15, 1999
Accession Number
ADA359859

Entities

People

  • A. Korth
  • C. Mouikis
  • Joseph F. Fennell
  • R. H. Friedel

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Alpha Particles
  • Corporations
  • Current Density
  • Data Sets
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Flux
  • Electrons
  • Magnetic Storms
  • Magnetosphere
  • Measurement
  • Particles
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Effects
  • Recovery
  • Solar Wind

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.