Abstract
Abstract Here, we review the results from the Van Allen Probes era (2012 to present) concerning the loss of outer radiation belt electrons via magnetopause incursions and outward radial transport. Magnetopause incursions involve the sudden inward motion of the magnetopause in response to enhanced solar wind dynamics and/or magnetic pressure; such incursions can result in sudden losses of electrons through the magnetopause. Any nonadiabatic outward radial transport also results in outer radiation belt losses, and such losses can be enhanced owing to sharp gradients in radial distributions following magnetopause incursions, enhanced wave activity that can resonate with drifting electrons, or bifurcated drift orbits. The most recent observational and modeling results present evidence supporting the importance of these loss processes for relativistic electrons in Earth’s outer radiation belt, particularly during strong, sudden loss events known as flux “dropouts.” However, there is an ongoing debate concerning the relative importance of magnetopause and outward transport losses as compared with those from wave scattering into Earth’s atmosphere. We finish with a discussion of outstanding questions and suggestions for future studies.
Published Version
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