Modelling of the outer electron belt flux dropout and losses during magnetic storm main phase Original Research Article

In this paper we analyze the flux dropout and loss of outer belt electrons during magnetic storms. Using observations of the outer belt variation during the 26 March 1995 magnetic storm by the REM detector onboard the STRV-1b satellite, we show that a real loss of electrons occurred during the storm main phase. In order to simulate the outer belt variation during this storm, fully adiabatic motion of equatorial electrons was simulated with the non stationary Tsyganenko96 magnetic field model. We discuss the effect of adiabatic deceleration during the storm main phase and conclude that drift of particles into the magnetopause may be a possible mechanism. Simulations with different field configurations show that the result are sensitive to the various field components.