Enhancements of relativistic electron flux at geostationary orbit during high-intensity, long-duration, continuous AE activity (HILDCAA) from 2015 to 2017

Abstract

This work characterizes the enhancements of relativistic electron flux (MeV) in the geostationary orbit (GEO) in High Intensity, Long Duration, Continuous AE Activity (HILDCAA) occurred during declining phase of solar cycle 24. We employed the relativistic electron (0.8 - 2.0 MeV) flux and low-energy electron (40 - 130 keV) flux measured by GOES-13 and POES satellites, respectively. Typically, the relativistic electron flux increases, while the low-energy electron flux decreases in the long recovery phase of moderate storms. The enhancements of E > 0.8 MeV and > 2.0 MeV occurred promptly and ∼1.0 day after the HILDCAA onset, respectively. A case study of short HILDCAA events shows that low solar wind dynamic pressure and long-lasting high amplitude Alfvén waves are efficient triggers of the relativistic electron enhancement at GEO. Large convection from magnetic reconnection in HILDCAA would induce substorms that injected more seed electrons for the acceleration. The peaks of the E > 2.0 MeV flux are more delayed than of the E > 0.8 MeV. After the onset of short- and prolonged-period HILDCAA, the peak flux of E > 0.8 MeV occurred about 2 and 4 days, respectively, and of E > 2.0 MeV occurred about 2 and 5 days, respectively.