The Energetic Electron Response to Magnetic Storms: HEO Satellite Observations
Abstract
The energetic electron observations from the HEO 97-068 satellite are used to study the electron response to magnetic storms in the inner magnetosphere during 1998-2002. The observations cover L values in the range 2.5 less than or equal L less than or equal 6. The same L values are covered at both high (>2.3 Re) and low (<1.2 Re) geocentric altitudes. The electron flux histories at low and high altitudes are directly compared and are found to track with a high degree of fidelity independent of flux levels and energy for a wide range of L values. The low-altitude >1.5 MeV electron fluxes were ^10-16% of the high-altitude fluxes for L = 3-5.5, except during the rapid post-storm flux rises. The decay of the post-storm electron fluxes were examined to obtain the e-folding decay times at L = 3, near the peak of the outer zone. The high-altitude >1.5 MeV electron fluxes were found to have three distinct l/e decay times of about 5, 10.5, and 17.5 days. The 5 and 10.5 day e- folding times ocurred in the first several days after the post-storm fluxes peaked during 2000-2001 and 1998 periods, respectively. The longer e-folding times occurred late in the decay history. These results support the view that the acceleration and loss mechanisms are operating essentially simultaneously over much of the outer zone.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA426629
Entities
People
- J. B. Blake
- Joseph F. Fennell
- R. Friedel
- S. Kanekal
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation