Observations of the impenetrable barrier, the plasmapause, and the VLF bubble during the 17 March 2015 storm

J. C Foster; P. J Erickson; D. N Baker; A. N Jaynes; E. V Mishin; J. F Fennel; X Li; M. G Henderson; S. G Kanekal

doi:10.1002/2016JA022509

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Observations of the impenetrable barrier, the plasmapause, and the VLF bubble during the 17 March 2015 storm

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Observations of the impenetrable barrier, the plasmapause, and the VLF bubble during the 17 March 2015 storm

J. C Foster, P. J Erickson, D. N Baker, A. N Jaynes, E. V Mishin, J. F Fennel, X Li, M. G Henderson and S. G Kanekal

Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.121(6), pp.5537-5548

06/2016

DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022509

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Abstract

Van Allen Probes observations during the 17 March 2015 major geomagnetic storm strongly suggest that VLF transmitter‐induced waves play an important role in sculpting the earthward extent of outer zone MeV electrons. A magnetically confined bubble of very low frequency (VLF) wave emissions of terrestrial, human‐produced origin surrounds the Earth. The outer limit of the VLF bubble closely matches the position of an apparent barrier to the inward extent of multi‐MeV radiation belt electrons near 2.8 Earth radii. When the VLF transmitter signals extend beyond the eroded plasmapause, electron loss processes set up near the outer extent of the VLF bubble create an earthward limit to the region of local acceleration near L = 2.8 as MeV electrons are scattered into the atmospheric loss cone. Key Points A magnetically confined bubble of very low frequency (VLF) emissions of natural and human‐produced origin surrounds the Earth The VLF bubble surrounding the Earth closely matches the position of the impenetrable barrier to the earthward extent of multi‐MeV electrons VLF transmitter‐induced waves act to sculpt the inner edge of MeV radiation belt electrons when large storms erode the plasmapause to L < 2.8

barrier

plasmapause

storm

VLF

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Title: Subtitle: Observations of the impenetrable barrier, the plasmapause, and the VLF bubble during the 17 March 2015 storm
Creators: J. C Foster - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
P. J Erickson - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
D. N Baker - University of Colorado Boulder
A. N Jaynes - University of Colorado Boulder
E. V Mishin - U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate
J. F Fennel - Space Sciences Laboratory
X Li - University of Colorado Boulder
M. G Henderson - Los Alamos National Laboratory
S. G Kanekal - Goddard Space Flight Center
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.121(6), pp.5537-5548
DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022509
ISSN: 2169-9380
eISSN: 2169-9402
Number of pages: 12
Grant note: JHU/APL (967399)
Language: English
Date published: 06/2016
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9984199757502771

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