Effect of EMIC waves on relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron populations: Ground‐based and Van Allen Probes observations

C Kletzing; M. E Usanova; A Drozdov; K Orlova; I. R Mann; Y Shprits; M. T Robertson; D. L Turner; D. K Milling; A Kale; D. N Baker; S. A Thaller; G. D Reeves; H. E Spence; J Wygant

doi:10.1002/2013GL059024

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Effect of EMIC waves on relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron populations: Ground‐based and Van Allen Probes observations

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Effect of EMIC waves on relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron populations: Ground‐based and Van Allen Probes observations

C Kletzing, M. E Usanova, A Drozdov, K Orlova, I. R Mann, Y Shprits, M. T Robertson, D. L Turner, D. K Milling, A Kale, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.41(5), pp.1375-1381

03/16/2014

DOI: 10.1002/2013GL059024

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Abstract

We study the effect of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves on the loss and pitch angle scattering of relativistic and ultrarelativistic electrons during the recovery phase of a moderate geomagnetic storm on 11 October 2012. The EMIC wave activity was observed in situ on the Van Allen Probes and conjugately on the ground across the Canadian Array for Real‐time Investigations of Magnetic Activity throughout an extended 18 h interval. However, neither enhanced precipitation of >0.7 MeV electrons nor reductions in Van Allen Probe 90° pitch angle ultrarelativistic electron flux were observed. Computed radiation belt electron pitch angle diffusion rates demonstrate that rapid pitch angle diffusion is confined to low pitch angles and cannot reach 90°. For the first time, from both observational and modeling perspectives, we show evidence of EMIC waves triggering ultrarelativistic (~2–8 MeV) electron loss but which is confined to pitch angles below around 45° and not affecting the core distribution. Key Points EMIC wave activity is not associated with precipitation of MeV electrons EMIC waves do not deplete the ultra‐relativistic belt down to 90° EMIC waves cause loss of low pitch angle electrons with energies ~2–8 MeV

EMIC waves

loss

pitch‐angle diffusion

relativistic electrons

ultra‐relativistic electrons

Van Allen Probes

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effect of EMIC waves on relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron populations: Ground‐based and Van Allen Probes observations
Creators: C Kletzing - University of Iowa
M. E Usanova - University of Alberta
A Drozdov - Lomonosov Moscow State University
K Orlova - Lomonosov Moscow State University
I. R Mann - University of Alberta
Y Shprits - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M. T Robertson - University of Alberta
D. L Turner - University of California, Los Angeles
D. K Milling - University of Alberta
A Kale - University of Alberta
D. N Baker - University of Colorado Boulder
S. A Thaller - University of Minnesota
G. D Reeves - Los Alamos National Laboratory
H. E Spence - University of New Hampshire
J Wygant - University of Minnesota
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.41(5), pp.1375-1381
DOI: 10.1002/2013GL059024
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 7
Grant note: NASA (NNX12AJ55G)
Language: English
Date published: 03/16/2014
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984199749502771

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