We performed a survey of relativistic electron precipitation (REP) events revealed by the Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detector instrument on board NOAA Polar‐orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites during a 38 day interval. We have divided the observed REP events into three groups with respect to the simultaneous observations of energetic (>30 keV) electron and proton precipitation. The first group consists of REP enhancements forming the isotropy zone at the poleward edge of trapped relativistic electron fluxes. These REP events are observed on the nightside, and they are, apparently, produced by isotropization process related to nonadiabatic motion of particles in the stretched magnetic field. The second group are the REP events related to simultaneous enhancements of energetic >30–300 keV electrons. These events have a wider magnetic local time range of occurrence with a maximum in the premidnight sector. They can be related to the interaction of electrons with waves whose possible nature is briefly discussed on the basis of comparison with the cold plasma density in the conjugated region of the equatorial plane. The third group consists of the REP events correlated with the burst‐like precipitation of >30–keV protons within an anisotropy zone, where the trapped flux dominates. These events are found in the dusk sector in association with enhanced cold plasma density in the conjugate equatorial magnetosphere. As is known, proton bursts within the anisotropy zone indicate the location of the electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave source. Such REP events can be due to scattering of the relativistic electrons by EMIC waves. However, we noted that some of these REP events are associated with precipitation of energetic electrons with low‐energy cutoff below 100 keV. We suggest that in such cases the electrons within a wide energy range are precipitated by other waves (probably, by plasmaspheric hiss).

Abstract. Using the low-altitude NOAA satellite particle data, we study two kinds of localised variations of energetic proton fluxes at low altitude within the anisotropic zone equatorward of the isotropy boundary. These flux variation types have a common feature, i.e. the presence of precipitating protons measured by the MEPED instrument at energies more than 30 keV, but they are distinguished by the fact of the presence or absence of the lower-energy component as measured by the TED detector on board the NOAA satellite. The localised proton precipitating without a lowenergy component occurs mostly in the morning-day sector, during quiet geomagnetic conditions, without substorm injections at geosynchronous orbit, and without any signatures of plasmaspheric plasma expansion to the geosynchronous distance. This precipitation pattern closely correlates with ground-based observations of continuous narrow-band Pc1 pulsations in the frequency range 0.1-2 Hz (hereafter Pc1). The precipitation pattern containing the low energy component occurs mostly in the evening sector, under disturbed geomagnetic conditions, and in association with energetic proton injections and significant increases of cold plasma density at geosynchronous orbit. This precipitation pattern is associated with geomagnetic pulsations called Intervals of Pulsations with Diminishing Periods (IPDP), but some minor part of the events is also related to narrow-band Pc1. Both Pc1 and IPDP pulsations are believed to be the electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves generated by the ion-cyclotron instability in the equatorial plane. These waves scatter energetic protons in pitch angles, so we conclude that the precipitation patterns studied here are the particle counterparts of the ion-cyclotron waves.

Abstract. Existing activity indices (magnetic indices like AE, Kp, Dst or indices based on solar wind parameters) are poor predictors of the instantaneous magnetospheric configuration. We suggest a new activity index – the MT-index. It is defined as the invariant latitude of the isotropic boundary (IB) of ↑100 keV protons reduced to the midnight meridian. This IB is a low-altitude signature of the boundary between regions of adiabatic and chaotic regimes of particle motion in the tail current sheet which is controlled by the magnetic field in the equatorial near-Earth tail (at 5–10Re). We have investigated the local time and activity dependence of the IB latitude based on data from about 2000 orbits of NOAA spacecraft. By finding the formula to reduce the IB latitude to midnight meridian, we then evaluate the accuracy of the derived index. We compared the MT-index with the magnetic field measured simultaneously by geosynchronous GOES-2 spacecraft and showed that, unlike the traditional indices, the MT-index displays a good correlation (r↑0.9) with the magnetic field inclination in the nightside portion of the geosynchronous orbit. It is, thus, a good measure to characterize quantitatively the tailward stretching of the tail magnetic field. Based on the measured MT value, a simple numerical procedure is suggested to choose the version of the T89 magnetospheric model. We conclude that the MT-index is the best known predictor of the instantaneous magnetic configuration in the near-Earth magnetotail. It may be available on a regular basis and can be implemented for scientific studies.

The commonly used formula H = DCF + DR, where DCF and DR are the effects of the magnetopause and ring current, respectively, neglects contribution of the cross‐tail current to the Dst variation. The formula allows us to explain satisfactorily the observed relation of the Dst variation to the ring current intensity but faces difficulties in explaining other experimental facts. First, the equatorward shift of the auroral oval cannot be caused by the sole enhancement of the ring current. Second, the observed relation of the Dst growth rate to the southward IMF component [Burton et al., 1975] does not have any quantitative explanation up to now. We suggest using a different formula, H = (2μ0psw)1/2 + DR‐Fout/2S. The formula is obtained from the conditions of magnetic flux conservation and pressure balance. The flux Fout is directed mainly to the nightside of the magnetosphere. Hence the term Fout/2S describes the effect of the crosstail current and a part of the magnetopause currents. During quiet periods, each term in the right‐hand side of our formula is of the order of tens of nanoteslas. During storm time, each term can rise to hundreds of nanoteslas. The flux Fout grows after the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) becomes southward owing to the flux transport from the dayside to the magnetotail. The growth rate is described by the formula dFout/dt = U − Fout/τF + ηF, where U is the electric potential difference between the dawnside and duskside of the magnetosphere and τF and ηF are constant. The voltage U depends linearly on the IMF southward component. Combining the latter formula with the expression for H yields a relationship between the Dst growth rate and the IMF southward component close to the observed one. Since the auroral oval is mapped predominantly to the plasma sheet of the magnetotail, the growth of Fout during a storm allows us to explain the equatorward shift of the auroral oval. Another prediction from our theory is the erosion of the stable trapping region in which the equatorial cross section S is related to the flux Fout by the equation S1/2[S(2μ0psw)1/2 + Fout] = 3π3/2(ME + MRC), where ME and MRC are the magnetic moments of the Earth and ring current, respectively. Growth of Fout leads to the decrease of S and to the earthward movement of the dayside magnetopause. During storms this effect can be stronger than that of the region 1 Birkeland current, also moving the magnetopause earthward.

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