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Detailed Reference Information |
Vassiliadis, D., Klimas, A.J., Weigel, R.S., Baker, D.N., Rigler, E.J., Kanekal, S.G., Nagai, T., Fung, S.F., Friedel, R.W.H. and Cayton, T.E. (2003). Structure of Earth's outer radiation belt inferred from long-term electron flux dynamics. Geophysical Research Letters 30: doi: 10.1029/2003GL017328. issn: 0094-8276. |
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We map the spatial structure of the electron belts over their radial range (L = 1--11 RE) using a total of 25 years of observations by NASA, ISAS, and GPS spacecraft. Correlation analysis reveals significant radial structuring of the outer belt and identifies three regions, while earlier single-spacecraft studies are used to interpret the results. The central region P1 (L = 4.1--7.5 RE) has a well-known slow response (2--3 days) most probably due to shear-hydrodynamic effects of the interplanetary medium, which excite ULF waves at low latitudes. In the innermost region P0 (L = 3.0--4.1 RE) the electron response is rapid ( 7.5 RE) has a much weaker brief response to magnetic field orientation and low interplanetary plasma velocities, anticorrelated with the other two regions. The findings and, in addition, the solar-cycle modulation of the region size strongly suggest that the solar wind excites nonlinear response modes in the inner magnetosphere which are prototypically revealed in the three regions. Given this spatial variability, the optimal approach to next-generation modeling and electron storm forecasting may differ considerably for each region. |
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Abstract![](/images/icons/spacer.gif) |
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Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Energetic particles, trapped, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosphere--inner, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics, Magnetospheric Physics, Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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