Understanding Van Allen Radiation Belt loss processes and their impact on the upper atmosphere
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Abstract
As an astrophysical object, the Earth's magnetosphere appears a rather quiescent body dominated by slow dynamical processes and small magnetic fields. However, within our environment are the Van Allen Radiation Belts - torus-shaped regions of relativistic plasma whose origins and behaviour are subjects of fierce scientific debate.
Modern society is increasingly reliant on the space-based infrastructure that inhabit this region for critical services such as Earth observation, defence, telecommunications, GPS navigation, and electronic banking and energetic particle precipitation affects upper atmospheric chemistry in ways that we are only now beginning to explore.
The Radiation Belts are governed by a complex interplay between acceleration, transport and loss processes. We are starting to understand acceleration and transport, but understanding relativistic electron loss is the big unknown in Radiation Belt physics. Electrons can be lost directly through the outer boundary of the magnetosphere, or via particle precipitation into the ionosphere contributing to chemistry changes and upper atmospheric dynamical changes.
This project will make the first quantifications of loss processes during heightened geomagnetic activity, such as CMEs. We will study energetic particle data from international satellite missions such as the NASA Van Allen Probes, and a worldwide ground-based ionospheric network to validate the bedrock of our theoretical understanding of the Radiation Belts.
Modern society is increasingly reliant on the space-based infrastructure that inhabit this region for critical services such as Earth observation, defence, telecommunications, GPS navigation, and electronic banking and energetic particle precipitation affects upper atmospheric chemistry in ways that we are only now beginning to explore.
The Radiation Belts are governed by a complex interplay between acceleration, transport and loss processes. We are starting to understand acceleration and transport, but understanding relativistic electron loss is the big unknown in Radiation Belt physics. Electrons can be lost directly through the outer boundary of the magnetosphere, or via particle precipitation into the ionosphere contributing to chemistry changes and upper atmospheric dynamical changes.
This project will make the first quantifications of loss processes during heightened geomagnetic activity, such as CMEs. We will study energetic particle data from international satellite missions such as the NASA Van Allen Probes, and a worldwide ground-based ionospheric network to validate the bedrock of our theoretical understanding of the Radiation Belts.
Publications
Rae I
(2019)
How Do Ultra-Low Frequency Waves Access the Inner Magnetosphere During Geomagnetic Storms?
in Geophysical Research Letters
Staples F
(2020)
Do Statistical Models Capture the Dynamics of the Magnetopause During Sudden Magnetospheric Compressions?
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ST/R505171/1 | 01/10/2017 | 24/12/2021 | |||
1910915 | Studentship | ST/R505171/1 | 01/10/2017 | 24/09/2021 | Frances Staples |
Title | THEMIS Magnetopause Crossing Database |
Description | Archived data for the manuscript "Do statistical models capture the dynamics of the magnetopause during sudden magnetospheric compressions?" by Staples et al., 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics (Accepted, DOI pending). This file contains the THEMIS magnetopause crossing data, including time and location of each THEMIS probe magnetopause crossing classified between 2007 and 2016 (inclusive). For detailed description of the method used to classify these magnetopause crossings, see section 3.1 in the manuscript. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This database has been used in our accepted manuscript "Do statistical models capture the dynamics of the magnetopause during sudden magnetospheric compressions?" by Staples et al., 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics (Accepted, DOI pending). |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3700504#.XmZtJi37Q5n |
Description | NASA Collaberation |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Goddard Space Flight Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I spent a month visiting Kyle Murphy at Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, where we collaborated on research which will go in my thesis. |
Collaborator Contribution | I have participated in the project goals and direction and completed data analysis. |
Impact | No current outputs |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Careers stand at high school |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Helped on a stand advertising careers in Space Science at a school careers fair. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Public Talk at Royal Institution |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a lecture titles 'My Gosh, Space is Radiactive?!' at the Royal Institution as part of an event to celebrate to 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I discussed the history, and current understanding, of the Radiation Belts. My lecture was put onto YouTube and has reached ~55,000 views to date. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSAQZ4aTSVQ&t=815s |
Description | UCL Physics Summer School Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Lead in a workshop on the radiation belts for a group of year 12 students during a summer school organised by the UCL department of Physics and Astronomy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |