Radiation Belt Sources and Losses Driven by Solar Wind Variability

Authors: T.G. Onsager; J.C. Green; G.D. Reeves
Affiliation: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Space Environment Center; University of Colorado, Boulder; Los Alamos National Laboratory

The flux levels of electrons in Earth's outer radiation belt are remarkably sensitive to changes in the solar wind. Not only is the solar wind-magnetosphere system capable of accelerating radiation belt electrons to high energies, but it is also capable of abruptly depleting the electrons. In this presentation we describe our recent results in understanding the radiation belt source and loss processes driven by solar wind variability. We find not only a response of the radiation belt that is directly driven by the solar wind, but also a response that depends on previous solar wind conditions and the resulting conditions within the magnetosphere. These results demonstrate a strong sensitivity of the outer radiation belt electrons to solar wind variability, often triggered by subtle changes in the solar wind.