Energetic electron enhancements below the radiation belt and X-ray contamination at low-orbiting satellites

TL;DR

This paper analyzes energetic electron enhancements below the radiation belt at low latitudes, examining their geographical distribution and association with solar wind drivers, to understand X-ray contamination in low-orbiting satellite measurements.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive statistical analysis of electron enhancements from 1999 to 2012, linking them to solar wind drivers and satellite observations.

Findings

Identified geographical patterns of electron enhancements.

Linked electron enhancements to specific solar wind drivers.

Quantified the duration and intensity of electron enhancements.

Abstract

The work concerns a problem of electron-induced contaminant at relatively low latitudes to high-energy astrophysical measurements on board the low-orbiting satellites. We show the results of a statistical analysis of the energetic electron enhancements in energy range 30-300 keV observed by a fleet of NOAA/POES low-orbiting satellites over the time period from 1999 to 2012. We demonstrate geographical distributions of great and moderate long-lasting enhancements caused by different type of the solar wind drivers.