Seasonal dependence of LEP observed on DEMETER Erin S. Gemelos 1, Umran S. Inan 1, Martin Walt 1, Jean-Andre Sauvaud 2, Michel Parrot 3 February 18, STAR Laboratory, Stanford University, USA 2 CESR/CNRS, Toulouse, France 3 LPCE/CNRS, Orléans, France
Motivation Lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP) an important loss process at L<2.5 Ground measurements: ionospheric effects of LEP observed via associated D-region ionization (e.g. Inan et al., 1988; Peter and Inan, 2004) In-situ measurements Stimulated Emissions of Energetic Particles (SEEP): measurements of LEP into the loss cone [Voss et al., 1984] DEMETER detection of LEP in the loss cone [Inan et al., 2007] Goal: Long term effect of lightning and drift loss cone enhancements using in-situ data
Outline (Motivation) DEMETER Lightning and wave data Seasonal precipitation Conclusions
DEMETER 730 km sun-synchronous orbit 10:30 or 22:30 local time Instrument for Particle Detection (IDP) Measures local pitch angles near 90, ~30 degree detector width 4/1 second resolution (survey/burst mode) ~20/10 keV spectral resolution (survey/burst mode) in range 70keV – 2.35 MeV Istrument Capteur Electrique (ICE) VLF power spectrum (1 E component)
Energy Resonance
Energy Resonance [Blake et al., 2001]
Resonant Energy [Inan et al., 2007]
Fluxes and Lightning
Seasonal Lightning
Seasonal Fluxes
Seasonal Variation
U.S. unique Location in drift loss cone
US unique Location in drift loss cone Geomagnetic conjugate in ocean
US unique Location in drift loss cone Geomagnetic conjugate in ocean VLF wave activity Courtesy of M. Parrot [UNPUBLISHED RESULT]
Seasonal Fluxes over Pacific
Seasonal fluxes over U.S. Conjugate
Conclusions Drift loss cone observations Seasonal variation consistent with LEP US uniquely located
Global difference