Reproducing the observed energy‐dependent structure of Earth's electron radiation belts during storm recovery with an event‐specific diffusion model

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

AbstractWe present dynamic simulations of energy‐dependent losses in the radiation belt “slot region” and the formation of the two‐belt structure for the quiet days after the 1 March storm. The simulations combine radial diffusion with a realistic scattering model, based data‐driven spatially and temporally resolved whistler‐mode hiss wave observations from the Van Allen Probes satellites. The simulations reproduce Van Allen Probes observations for all energies and L shells (2–6) including (a) the strong energy dependence to the radiation belt dynamics (b) an energy‐dependent outer boundary to the inner zone that extends to higher L shells at lower energies and (c) an “S‐shaped” energy‐dependent inner boundary to the outer zone that results from the competition between diffusive radial transport and losses. We find that the characteristic energy‐dependent structure of the radiation belts and slot region is dynamic and can be formed gradually in ~15 days, although the “S shape” can also be reproduced by assuming equilibrium conditions. The highest‐energy electrons (E > 300 keV) of the inner region of the outer belt (L ~ 4–5) also constantly decay, demonstrating that hiss wave scattering affects the outer belt during times of extended plasmasphere. Through these simulations, we explain the full structure in energy and L shell of the belts and the slot formation by hiss scattering during storm recovery. We show the power and complexity of looking dynamically at the effects over all energies and L shells and the need for using data‐driven and event‐specific conditions.