The connection between solar wind velocity variations and the physical and empirical models for electron fluxes in near-Earth space

Abstract

Long duration predictions of energetic electron fluxes in near-Earth space is obtained using calculated models. However the existing calculated models, constructed on the basis of experimental data, usually do not sufficiently take into account the variations of the solar wind velocity. Many experiments on satellites such as “Molnia”, “Prognoz”, “Intercosmos” and “Cosmos” show that the energetic electron flux intensity in magnetosheath, magnetopause and geosynchronous orbits depends on the solar wind velocity. Specifically, a quantitative relation has been established between energetic electron fluxes in the outer radiation belt ( L = 3.5−5) and the solar wind velocity value, and the ratios determining time of energetic electron transfer from the magnetospheric boundaries to ionospheric altitudes. A method for determining the dependence observed in physical and empirical models for energetic electron fluxes in near-Earth cosmic space is suggested.