Journal article
Comparison of Van Allen Probes Energetic Electron Data With Corresponding GOES‐15 Measurements: 2012–2018
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.124(12), pp.9924-9942
12/2019
DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027331
Abstract
Electron fluxes (especially at energies E > 0.8 and 2 MeV) have been measured for many years by sensors on board the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). These long‐term data (nominally at L ~ 6.6) have become a mainstay for monitoring the Earth's radiation environment. We have carried out a study directly comparing the comprehensive radiation belt particle measurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration dual‐spacecraft Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes) sensor systems with selected GOES operational data. The Van Allen Probes have measured the properties of radiation belt electrons virtually continuously from September 2012 to 2018. We make statistical comparisons of Van Allen Probes electron data near L = 6 with concurrent daily averages of equivalent GOES‐15 flux values. We also compare Van Allen Probes data at various other L values and at a much broader range of particle energies with the more limited baseline GOES‐15 values. These comparisons inform us about the relative calibrations between the scientific and operational systems and also allow us to assess how well GOES data correlate with radiation belt behavior well away from the geostationary orbit location. We find that GOES daily average flux values can be a factor of 100 (or more) below the corresponding Van Allen Probes daily averaged fluxes at L = 6.0. This is due to the fact that GOES at stationary orbit often has excursions over large ranges of L space during a given day and strong radial gradients exist in this region of the magnetosphere. These results indicate that it is crucial to augment geosynchronous GOES observations with observations in the core of the outer belt (L ≲5.0).
Key Points
Comparison of operational GOES data with NASA science data
Statistical study of radiation belt properties over 6 years
Study shows radial range and energy range where GOES can monitor radiation belts
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Comparison of Van Allen Probes Energetic Electron Data With Corresponding GOES‐15 Measurements: 2012–2018
- Creators
- D. N. Baker - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsH. Zhao - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsX. Li - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsS. G. Kanekal - Goddard Space Flight CenterA. N. Jaynes - University of IowaB. T. Kress - Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental SciencesJ. V. Rodriguez - NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationH. J. Singer - National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationS. G. Claudepierre - The Aerospace CorporationJ. F. Fennell - The Aerospace CorporationV. Hoxie - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.124(12), pp.9924-9942
- DOI
- 10.1029/2019JA027331
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 19
- Grant note
- NASA (NNG07HWOOC) JHU/APL (967399) University of New Hampshire (UNH) (17‐003)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2019
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9984428807102771
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