Statistics and Empirical Models of the Plasmasphere Boundaries From the Van Allen Probes for Radiation Belt Physics

J. F. Ripoll; Scott A Thaller; D. P. Hartley; G. S. Cunningham; V. Pierrard; W. S. Kurth; C. A. Kletzing; J. R. Wygant

doi:10.1029/2022GL101402

Statistics and Empirical Models of the Plasmasphere Boundaries From the Van Allen Probes for Radiation Belt Physics

J. F. Ripoll, Scott A Thaller, D. P. Hartley, G. S. Cunningham, V. Pierrard, W. S. Kurth, C. A. Kletzing, J. R. Wygant

Physics and Astronomy (Twin Cities)

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Abstract

We deduce the electron plasma density from the NASA Van Allen Probes Electric Field and Waves and Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science measurements and extract the plasmasphere boundaries throughout 2012–2019. We use the gradient method for locating the plasmapause at L_pp and the 100 cm⁻³ density threshold for the plasmasphere outer edge at L₁₀₀. We show how, where, and when both L_pp and L₁₀₀ coincide when the plasmapause gradient exists. L₁₀₀ is demonstrated to bound the plasmasphere at large L-shell in the dusk. The plasmasphere expands farther out than predicted from the Carpenter and Anderson (1992, https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01548) model. We generate statistics of the plasmasphere boundaries binned by L-shell, magnetic local time (MLT), and geomagnetic indices, leading to new models for radiation belt codes. The L₁₀₀ boundary commonly varies by ∼±0.5 L, increasing with activity up to ∼±1 L, becomes MLT-dependent for Kp > ∼2, and is preferentially steep on the night side for non-quiet times and a wider region in the afternoon sector.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e2022GL101402
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	49
Issue number	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL101402
State	Published - Nov 16 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the EFW and EMFISIS teams of the Van Allen Probes mission for their support. The authors thank the National Science Foundation Geospace Environment Modeling Project 2040708. The authors thank the International Space Sciences Institute (ISSI) and the participants in a 2020 ISSI workshop for the project “Radiation belts physics.” The work of J.‐F.R. and G.S.C. was performed under the auspices of an agreement between Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires (CEA/DAM) and National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Program (NNSA/DP) on cooperation on fundamental science. D.P.H. acknowledges NASA Grant 80NSSC20K1324. V.P. acknowledges the Horizon 2020 PITHIA‐NRF grant agreement No. 101007599.

Funding Information:
The authors thank the EFW and EMFISIS teams of the Van Allen Probes mission for their support. The authors thank the National Science Foundation Geospace Environment Modeling Project 2040708. The authors thank the International Space Sciences Institute (ISSI) and the participants in a 2020 ISSI workshop for the project “Radiation belts physics.” The work of J.-F.R. and G.S.C. was performed under the auspices of an agreement between Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires (CEA/DAM) and National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Program (NNSA/DP) on cooperation on fundamental science. D.P.H. acknowledges NASA Grant 80NSSC20K1324. V.P. acknowledges the Horizon 2020 PITHIA-NRF grant agreement No. 101007599.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

100 cm
plasmapause
plasmasphere
radiation belts
wave particle interactions

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10.1029/2022GL101402

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@article{a5c92191ac9e496ab955fc65366e9a1c,

title = "Statistics and Empirical Models of the Plasmasphere Boundaries From the Van Allen Probes for Radiation Belt Physics",

abstract = "We deduce the electron plasma density from the NASA Van Allen Probes Electric Field and Waves and Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science measurements and extract the plasmasphere boundaries throughout 2012–2019. We use the gradient method for locating the plasmapause at Lpp and the 100 cm−3 density threshold for the plasmasphere outer edge at L100. We show how, where, and when both Lpp and L100 coincide when the plasmapause gradient exists. L100 is demonstrated to bound the plasmasphere at large L-shell in the dusk. The plasmasphere expands farther out than predicted from the Carpenter and Anderson (1992, https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01548) model. We generate statistics of the plasmasphere boundaries binned by L-shell, magnetic local time (MLT), and geomagnetic indices, leading to new models for radiation belt codes. The L100 boundary commonly varies by ∼±0.5 L, increasing with activity up to ∼±1 L, becomes MLT-dependent for Kp > ∼2, and is preferentially steep on the night side for non-quiet times and a wider region in the afternoon sector.",

keywords = "100 cm, plasmapause, plasmasphere, radiation belts, wave particle interactions",

author = "Ripoll, {J. F.} and Thaller, {Scott A} and Hartley, {D. P.} and Cunningham, {G. S.} and V. Pierrard and Kurth, {W. S.} and Kletzing, {C. A.} and Wygant, {J. R.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank the EFW and EMFISIS teams of the Van Allen Probes mission for their support. The authors thank the National Science Foundation Geospace Environment Modeling Project 2040708. The authors thank the International Space Sciences Institute (ISSI) and the participants in a 2020 ISSI workshop for the project “Radiation belts physics.” The work of J.‐F.R. and G.S.C. was performed under the auspices of an agreement between Commissariat {\`a} l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires (CEA/DAM) and National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Program (NNSA/DP) on cooperation on fundamental science. D.P.H. acknowledges NASA Grant 80NSSC20K1324. V.P. acknowledges the Horizon 2020 PITHIA‐NRF grant agreement No. 101007599. Funding Information: The authors thank the EFW and EMFISIS teams of the Van Allen Probes mission for their support. The authors thank the National Science Foundation Geospace Environment Modeling Project 2040708. The authors thank the International Space Sciences Institute (ISSI) and the participants in a 2020 ISSI workshop for the project “Radiation belts physics.” The work of J.-F.R. and G.S.C. was performed under the auspices of an agreement between Commissariat {\`a} l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires (CEA/DAM) and National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Program (NNSA/DP) on cooperation on fundamental science. D.P.H. acknowledges NASA Grant 80NSSC20K1324. V.P. acknowledges the Horizon 2020 PITHIA-NRF grant agreement No. 101007599. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.",

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AU - Ripoll, J. F.

AU - Thaller, Scott A

AU - Hartley, D. P.

AU - Cunningham, G. S.

AU - Pierrard, V.

AU - Kurth, W. S.

AU - Kletzing, C. A.

AU - Wygant, J. R.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank the EFW and EMFISIS teams of the Van Allen Probes mission for their support. The authors thank the National Science Foundation Geospace Environment Modeling Project 2040708. The authors thank the International Space Sciences Institute (ISSI) and the participants in a 2020 ISSI workshop for the project “Radiation belts physics.” The work of J.‐F.R. and G.S.C. was performed under the auspices of an agreement between Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires (CEA/DAM) and National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Program (NNSA/DP) on cooperation on fundamental science. D.P.H. acknowledges NASA Grant 80NSSC20K1324. V.P. acknowledges the Horizon 2020 PITHIA‐NRF grant agreement No. 101007599. Funding Information: The authors thank the EFW and EMFISIS teams of the Van Allen Probes mission for their support. The authors thank the National Science Foundation Geospace Environment Modeling Project 2040708. The authors thank the International Space Sciences Institute (ISSI) and the participants in a 2020 ISSI workshop for the project “Radiation belts physics.” The work of J.-F.R. and G.S.C. was performed under the auspices of an agreement between Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires (CEA/DAM) and National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Program (NNSA/DP) on cooperation on fundamental science. D.P.H. acknowledges NASA Grant 80NSSC20K1324. V.P. acknowledges the Horizon 2020 PITHIA-NRF grant agreement No. 101007599. Publisher Copyright: © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

PY - 2022/11/16

Y1 - 2022/11/16

N2 - We deduce the electron plasma density from the NASA Van Allen Probes Electric Field and Waves and Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science measurements and extract the plasmasphere boundaries throughout 2012–2019. We use the gradient method for locating the plasmapause at Lpp and the 100 cm−3 density threshold for the plasmasphere outer edge at L100. We show how, where, and when both Lpp and L100 coincide when the plasmapause gradient exists. L100 is demonstrated to bound the plasmasphere at large L-shell in the dusk. The plasmasphere expands farther out than predicted from the Carpenter and Anderson (1992, https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01548) model. We generate statistics of the plasmasphere boundaries binned by L-shell, magnetic local time (MLT), and geomagnetic indices, leading to new models for radiation belt codes. The L100 boundary commonly varies by ∼±0.5 L, increasing with activity up to ∼±1 L, becomes MLT-dependent for Kp > ∼2, and is preferentially steep on the night side for non-quiet times and a wider region in the afternoon sector.

AB - We deduce the electron plasma density from the NASA Van Allen Probes Electric Field and Waves and Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science measurements and extract the plasmasphere boundaries throughout 2012–2019. We use the gradient method for locating the plasmapause at Lpp and the 100 cm−3 density threshold for the plasmasphere outer edge at L100. We show how, where, and when both Lpp and L100 coincide when the plasmapause gradient exists. L100 is demonstrated to bound the plasmasphere at large L-shell in the dusk. The plasmasphere expands farther out than predicted from the Carpenter and Anderson (1992, https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01548) model. We generate statistics of the plasmasphere boundaries binned by L-shell, magnetic local time (MLT), and geomagnetic indices, leading to new models for radiation belt codes. The L100 boundary commonly varies by ∼±0.5 L, increasing with activity up to ∼±1 L, becomes MLT-dependent for Kp > ∼2, and is preferentially steep on the night side for non-quiet times and a wider region in the afternoon sector.

KW - 100 cm

KW - plasmapause

KW - plasmasphere

KW - radiation belts

KW - wave particle interactions

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M3 - Article

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VL - 49

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

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ER -

Statistics and Empirical Models of the Plasmasphere Boundaries From the Van Allen Probes for Radiation Belt Physics

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