G3: Near-earth radiation and plasma environment

Moderator:

Yihua Zheng (NASA/GSFC, USA), yihua.zheng@nasa.gov

Co-moderators:

Ian Mann (University of Alberta, Canada), imann@ualberta.ca

Impact:

(Aero)Space Assets Functions

Surface charging
Internal charging
Single Event Effects (SEE)
Total dose

Particle (precipitation) Impact on Ionosphere-Thermosphere-Atmosphere (new)

Human health

Aviation safety
Astronauts' health at LEO orbits

Introduction:

The near-earth radiation and plasma environment consist of diverse particle populations of different origins that often evolve dynamically over time and space, and span across a broad energy range. Such an environment poses challenges from both science and space weather-impact perspectives. It brings about deleterious effects on spacecraft electronics and/or life in space.

Objectives:

Perform impact-driven model assessment
Advance science understanding and modeling capability of the near-Earth radiation and plasma environment
Stay current with relevant clusters' progress and actively seek collaborative inter-cluster efforts

Essential Space Environment Quantities / Forecasting Goals:

Effects

Science

Timescale

Surface Charging

>10 keV electron flux

>10 keV e- flux; Te; Ne

seconds

Internal Charging

>100 fA/cm2 [100 mils]

1 MeV and >2 MeV e- flux

24-hr, 48-hr averaged

Single Event Effects

SEE rate [100 mils]

>30 MeV p+ flux; >15 MeV.cm2.mg-1 LET flux

5-min, daily, weekly

Total Dose

dose in Si [100 mils; 4 mils]

30-50 MeV p+ flux; >1.5 MeV e- flux; 1-10 MeV p+

daily, weekly, yearly

Radiation Effects at Aviation Altitudes

dose rate in aircraft (D-index)

2 spectral parameters (power law with rigidity)

5-min, hourly

Action topics:

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Advance modeling capability of the coupled geospace system (including ring current, plasmasphere, plasma sheet, ionosphere and thermosphere).
Improve and assess of 4D and 3D radiation belt modeling capabilities
Understand and quantify trapped particles transport, acceleration and loss
Understand and quantify relative importance of different wave-particle interactions in radiation belt acceleration and loss, and which modes of interaction dominate under different solar wind driving conditions
Understand and quantify generation of time and energy dependent source populations
Assessment of quasi-linear and diffusive approximations for wave-particle interactions (from VLF to ULF frequencies)
Maintaining and augmenting the radiation environment observational database for a variety of orbital conditions
Identify and prepare particle fluences and energy spectra datasets for assimilation, assessment, and optimized exploitation (e.g., machine learning)
Investigate the penetration of SEP and GCR into inner magnetosphere and atmosphere
Define/refine ESEQ (Essential Space Environment Quanitities) and criteria for satellite surface charging for different orbit types; assess and improve the specification and forecasting of the internal charging environment
Define/refine ESEQ and criteria for satellite internal charging for different orbit types; assess and improve the specification and forecasting of the internal charging environment
Define/refine ESEQ and criteria for singe event effects (SEE) different orbit types; assess and improve the specification and forecasting of the internal charging environment
Assess and improve specification and forecasting of total dose environment
Quantify radiation environment and effects at aviation altitudes
Generate inputs to global space weather roadmap

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