Deepening of radiation belt particles in South Atlantic Anomaly Region: A scenario over past 120 years

Abstract

• Weakened magnetic field is pushing radiation belt particles towards the Earth in SAA. • The average deepening rate of radiation belt particles is 4.3 km/year. • The deepening is increased by 434–590 km in last 120 years. • Deepening in the SAA region is depended on its initial longitude. • Deepening in the SAA region is independent of its equatorial pitch angle. The geomagnetic field has an unusual weak spot over South America and the South Atlantic Ocean, called South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). We know that the magnetospheric particles trapped in the geomagnetic field move to the deeper altitudes over the SAA, resulting in the lower inner boundary of the radiation belt. However, over the past 400 years, the magnetic field in the SAA region has decreased consistently. In some recent studies, a rapid decrease of the magnetic field in the SAA region and the possibility of splitting of SAA have been reported. This weakened geomagnetic field has a bearing on the lower altitudinal reach (deepening) of the radiation belt particles. In this context, we performed simulations to examine and quantify the lowest altitudes encountered by the radiation belt particles over the SAA region. We found that particles of energies 100 keV-50 MeV, initially entering from an altitudes of 1–2 Earth radii are moving closer to the Earth at the rate of 3.8 - 4.7 km/year, which results in approximately 434 - 590 kms decrease in their altitude over the SAA region during 1900 to 2020. Furthermore, we noticed that the lowest altitude encountered by the particle in the SAA region is dependent on the initial longitude and independent of its initial local pitch angle corresponding to its entry in the Earth’s magnetosphere.