Energetic electron enhancements under the radiation belt (<i>L</i> < 1.2) during a non-storm interval on 1 August 2008

Abstract

Abstract. An unusual event of deep injections of >30 keV electrons from the radiation belt to low L shells (L<1.2) in the midnight–dawn sector was found from NOAA/POES observations during quiet geomagnetic conditions on 1 August 2008. Using THEMIS observations in front of the bow shock, we found transient foreshock conditions and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) discontinuities passing the subsolar region at that time. These conditions resulted in generation of plasma pressure pulses and fast plasma jets observed by THEMIS, respectively, in the foreshock and magnetosheath. Signatures of interactions of pressure pulses and jets with the magnetopause were found in THEMIS and GOES measurements in the dayside magnetosphere and ground magnetogram records from INTERMAGNET. The jets produce penetration of hot magnetosheath plasma into the dayside magnetosphere, as was observed by the THEMIS probes after approaching the magnetopause. High-latitude precipitations of the hot plasma were observed by NOAA/POES satellites on the dayside. The precipitations preceded the >30 keV electron injections at low latitudes. We propose a scenario of possible association between the phenomena observed. However, the scenario cannot be firmly supported because of the lack of experimental data on electric fields at the heights of electron injections. This should be a subject of future experiments.