Inner radiation belt electron lifetimes due to whistler-induced electron precipitation (WEP) driven losses

Rodger, Craig J.; Clilverd, Mark A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-1529. 2002 Inner radiation belt electron lifetimes due to whistler-induced electron precipitation (WEP) driven losses. Geophysical Research Letters, 29 (19), 1924. 30-1-30-4. 10.1029/2002GL015795

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Text Copyright 2002 by the American Geophysical Union Geophysical Research Letters - 2002 - Rodger - Inner radiation belt electron lifetimes due to whistler‐induced electron.pdf - Published Version Download (93kB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Wave-particle interactions driven by whistler mode waves in the inner Van Allan belt is an important loss process for the energetic electrons found in this region. In this paper we seek to investigate the significance of Whistler-Induced Electron Precipitation (WEP) to inner belt electron lifetimes, by combining experimental satellite results, ionospheric remote observations, and global lightning distributions. We find that long-term WEP driven losses at L = 2.23 are more significant than all other inner radiation belt loss processes for electron kinetic energies in the range 40–350 keV. This suggests a faster depletion rate and thus lower lifetimes than previously calculated. Thunderstorm generated whistlers are an important factor for determining the lifetimes of medium energy electrons in the inner belt.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2002GL015795
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Geospace Atmosphere Transfer Functions
ISSN:	0094-8276
Date made live:	22 Mar 2012 09:27 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/17404

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