Simulation of Radiation Belt Dynamics Driven by Solar Wind Variations

The rapid rise of relativistic electron fluxes inside geosynchronous orbit during the January 10-11, 1997, CME-driven magnetic cloud event has been simulated using a relativistic guiding center test particle code driven by out-put from a 3D global MHD simulation of the event. A comparison can be made of this event class, characterized by a moderate solar wind speed (< 600 km/s), and those commonly observed at the last solar maximum with a higher solar wind speed and shock accelerated solar energetic proton component. Relativistic electron flux increase occurred over several hours for the January event, during a period of prolonged southward IMF Bz more rapidly than the 1-2 day delay typical of flux increases driven by solar wind high speed stream interactions. Simulations of the January event captured the flux