Simulated magnetopause losses and Van Allen Probe flux dropouts

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Abstract
Three radiation belt flux dropout events seen by the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope soon after launch of the Van Allen Probes in 2012 (Baker et al., 2013a) have been simulated using the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry MHD code coupled to the Rice Convection Model, driven by measured upstream solar wind parameters. MHD results show inward motion of the magnetopause for each event, along with enhanced ULF wave power affecting radial transport. Test particle simulations of electron response on 8 October, prior to the strong flux enhancement on 9 October, provide evidence for loss due to magnetopause shadowing, both in energy and pitch angle dependence. Severe plasmapause erosion occurred during ~ 14 h of strongly southward interplanetary magnetic field Bz beginning 8 October coincident with the inner boundary of outer zone depletion.
Year of Publication
2014
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
41
Number of Pages
1113-1118
Date Published
02/2014
URL
http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/2014GL059222
DOI
10.1002/2014GL059222
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