Causal Inference in the Outer Radiation Belt: Evidence for Local Acceleration

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985807%3A_____%2F24%3A00588371" target="_blank" >RIV/67985807:_____/24:00588371 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107166" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107166</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107166" target="_blank" >10.1029/2023GL107166</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Causal Inference in the Outer Radiation Belt: Evidence for Local Acceleration

Original language description

the outer radiation belt. Herein, the methodology based on causal inference is applied for identification of factors that control fluxes of relativistic electrons in the outer belt. The patterns of interactions between the solar wind, geomagnetic activity and belt electrons have been investigated. We found a significant information transfer from solar wind, geomagnetic activity and fluxes of very low energy electrons (54 keV), into fluxes of relativistic (470 keV) and ultra-relativistic (2.23 MeV) electrons. We present evidence of a direct causal relationship from relativistic into ultra-relativistic electrons, which points to a local acceleration mechanism for electrons energization. It is demonstrated that the observed information transfer from low energy electrons at 54 keV into energetic electrons at 470 keV is due to the presence of common external drivers such as substorm activity. Despite the fact that the discovery of the radiation belts occurred more than 60 years ago, a comprehensive understanding of the physical processes that are involved in the dynamics of the fluxes of relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt is still lacking. Development of a thorough physical model accounting for the radiation belt dynamics has the potential to assist mitigation of spacecraft hazards caused by energetic particles. Herein, an information-theoretical approach, based on the methodology of causal inference, is applied for identification of factors that control fluxes of relativistic electrons in the outer belt. The patterns of interactions between the solar wind, geomagnetic activity and belt electrons have been investigated. We have found that inward radial transport from an external source is a less favorable mechanism than local acceleration for the energization of outer radiation belt electrons from relativistic to ultra-relativistic energies. Evidence of direct causality from relativistic into ultra-relativistic electrons, compatible with local acceleration in the outer belt Detection of information transfer unveils the mechanisms of energy transfer in radiation belts, important for space weather forecasting Information flow formulation of causality has a great potential for space physics discoveries

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10201 - Computer sciences, information science, bioinformathics (hardware development to be 2.2, social aspect to be 5.8)

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA19-16066S" target="_blank" >GA19-16066S: Nonlinear interactions and information transfer in complex systems with extreme events</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Geophysical Research Letters

ISSN

0094-8276

e-ISSN

1944-8007

Volume of the periodical

51

Issue of the periodical within the volume

15

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

e2023GL107166

UT code for WoS article

001286756700001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85201052141