Lightning-induced relativistic electron precipitation from the inner radiation belt

Max Feinland (), Lauren W. Blum, Robert A. Marshall, Longzhi Gan, Mykhaylo Shumko and Mark Looper
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Max Feinland: University of Colorado
Lauren W. Blum: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Robert A. Marshall: University of Colorado
Longzhi Gan: Boston University
Mykhaylo Shumko: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Mark Looper: The Aerospace Corporation

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The Earth’s radiation belts are maintained by a number of acceleration, loss and transport mechanisms, and the electron fluxes at any given time are highly variable. Microbursts, which are rapid (sub-second) bursts of energetic electrons entering the atmosphere from the magnetosphere, are one of the key loss mechanisms controlling radiation belt fluxes. Such rapid bursts are typically observed from the outer radiation belt and driven by interactions with whistler mode chorus waves, but they can also occur in the inner belt and slot region, driven by lightning-generated whistlers. This lightning-induced electron precipitation is typically observed at 10s–100s keV, but here we present direct observations of this phenomenon at MeV energies. This unveils a coupling between near-Earth processes, such as lightning, and radiation belt processes, such as relativistic electron microbursts, bridging the gap between Earth weather and space weather.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53036-4

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