The Plasma and Radiation Environment in Earth Orbit

• Main Author: Rycroft, Michael J.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2010
• Subjects: aurora australis; aurora borealis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470686652.eae323; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470686652.eae323

Abstract After reviewing the important properties of matter in the plasma state, the solar‐terrestrial environment is introduced. The plasma flowing out from the Sun through interplanetary space as the supersonic solar wind is considered, as is its interaction with the Earth's magnetic field to form the magnetosphere, and the energetic charged particles trapped in the magnetosphere which constitute the Van Allen radiation belts. Also considered is the thermal plasma in the ionosphere (at altitudes between ∼80 km and the F‐region peak at ∼300 km) and the plasmasphere above it. Energetic electrons and protons are lost from the magnetosphere, especially at middle to high latitudes, by precipitation into the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The aurora australis and aurora borealis are created at altitudes of ∼110 km and above as these energetic charged particles impact the tenuous upper atmosphere near 67° magnetic latitude. Observations made from satellites enable us to understand the behavior of the radiation and plasma in near‐Earth space. Some aspects of this environment are hazardous to satellites both in geosynchronous orbit and in low‐Earth orbit, and their electronic equipment – this field of study is introduced; today it is termed “space weather.”