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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Keywords

  • substorm
  • electron precipitation

Index Terms

  • Ionosphere: Particle precipitation
  • Ionosphere: Ionospheric storms
  • Ionosphere: Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Energetic particles: precipitating
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Polar cap phenomena
Abstract
Cited By (1)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, A10311, 12 PP., 2008
doi:10.1029/2008JA013220

Energetic electron precipitation during substorm injection events: High-latitude fluxes and an unexpected midlatitude signature

Mark A. Clilverd

Physical Sciences Division, National Environmental Research Council, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, U.K.

Craig J. Rodger

Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

James Brundell

Dunedin, New Zealand

John Bähr

Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Neil Cobbett

Physical Sciences Division, National Environmental Research Council, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, U.K.

Tracy Moffat-Griffin

Physical Sciences Division, National Environmental Research Council, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, U.K.

Andrew J. Kavanagh

Space Plasma Environment and Radio Science Group, Department of Communication Systems, Lancaster University, Lancaster, U.K.

Annika Seppälä

Earth Observation, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Neil. R. Thomson

Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Reiner H. W. Friedel

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

Frederick W. Menk

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

Geosynchronous Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL-97A) satellite particle data, riometer data, and radio wave data recorded at high geomagnetic latitudes in the region south of Australia and New Zealand are used to perform the first complete modeling study of the effect of substorm electron precipitation fluxes on low-frequency radio wave propagation conditions associated with dispersionless substorm injection events. We find that the precipitated electron energy spectrum is consistent with an e-folding energy of 50 keV for energies <400 keV but also contains higher fluxes of electrons from 400 to 2000 keV. To reproduce the peak subionospheric radio wave absorption signatures seen at Casey (Australian Antarctic Division), and the peak riometer absorption observed at Macquarie Island, requires the precipitation of 50–90% of the peak fluxes observed by LANL-97A. Additionally, there is a concurrent and previously unreported substorm signature at L < 2.8, observed as a substorm-associated phase advance on radio waves propagating between Australia and New Zealand. Two mechanisms are discussed to explain the phase advances. We find that the most likely mechanism is the triggering of wave-induced electron precipitation caused by waves enhanced in the plasmasphere during the substorm and that either plasmaspheric hiss waves or electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves are a potential source capable of precipitating the type of high-energy electron spectrum required. However, the presence of these waves at such low L shells has not been confirmed in this study.

Received 28 March 2008; accepted 1 August 2008; published 30 October 2008.

Citation: Clilverd, M. A., et al. (2008), Energetic electron precipitation during substorm injection events: High-latitude fluxes and an unexpected midlatitude signature, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A10311, doi:10.1029/2008JA013220.

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