[IGPP Everyone] AOS270 Seminar, Wed. Feb. 18th: Recent Advances in Understanding Earth’s Radiation Belt Dynamics: an Innovative Technique, Observations, and Simulations (W. Li, UCLA AOS)

[Emmanuel V. Masongsong]

Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Seminar 




AOS270 




Wednesday, February 18, 2015 

3:30 PM to 4:30 PM 

MSB 7124 



Wen Li 

UCLA AOS 



“Recent Advances in Understanding Earth’s Radiation Belt Dynamics: 

an Innovative Technique, Observations, and Simulations” 



Abstract 





Earth’s radiation belt is a region (within several Earth radii) where highly relativistic particles reside and is a key element of space weather, which has broad impacts on our technological systems and society. The extremely dynamical evolution of radiation belt electrons is caused by various solar wind drivers and understanding the Sun’s influence on radiation belts is critical in forecasting space weather. Radiation belt electrons are collisionless and wave-particle interactions play a fundamental role in the physical processes of electron acceleration, loss, and transport. In this talk, I will show how we obtain the global distribution of an important type of plasma wave in the radiation belt, called chorus, using two independent methods: 1) an innovative technique to infer chorus wave intensity from energetic electron precipitation observed by Low-Earth-Orbiting satellites; 2) statistical results from multi-satellite wave observations. Subsequently, we use the constructed global chorus wave distribution to simulate dynamical electron evolution in a very rapid electron acceleration event and determine the primary acceleration mechanism. We further evaluate solar wind conditions preferentially leading to ultra-relativistic electron acceleration in the radiation belt. At last, I will discuss current and future research plans followed by unprecedented opportunities of exploring radiation belt science in the future. 


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