Dependence of radiation belt flux depletions at geostationary orbit on different solar drivers during intense geomagnetic storms

Abstract

The loss of electron flux of the outer radiation belt has been widely studied in terms of the mechanism that brings in these losses. There are a few studies which have attempted to explain the interplanetary conditions that favor the depletions. As the Sun is the prime cause of any change happening in the magnetosphere, it is important to look at the solar drivers that bring in such changes. In this study, we attempt to understand the effect of solar structures and substructures on the loss of radiation belt high-energy electrons during intense geomagnetic storms. The superposed epoch analysis is used to observe any peculiar changes in GOES electron flux data during the storms that are associated with solar structures such as CME and CIR, ICME substructures such as the magnetic cloud, magnetic cloud with sheath, ejecta, ejecta with sheath, and only sheath. The long-term data also give an opportunity to compare the flux decrease during solar cycles 23 and 24. It has been observed that 1) CIR-associated storms cause a comparatively higher flux decrease than CME-associated storms, 2) sheath-related storms bring out a higher flux decrease, and 3) there is no significant change in flux for the storms of both the solar cycles. The flux decrease in intense storms at the geostationary orbit is essentially triggered by the “Dst effect.” Apart from this, the minimum IMF Bz and northward IMF Bz before turning southward add to the flux decrease. These results hold true for the electron depletions occurring only during intense geomagnetic storms and may alter otherwise.