Dynamics of Relativistic Electron Fluxes of the Outer Radiation Belt During Low Geomagnetic Activity on January 07–24, 2018

The article presents the results of studying the dynamics of relativistic electron fluxes of the Earth’s outer radiation belt during a long period of low geomagnetic activity on January 07–24, 2018. The arrival of high-speed solar wind streams that caused minor geomagnetic disturbances with an amplitude of about 20 nT was observed during three successive intervals on January 07–13, 14–18, and 19–24. A comparative analysis was carried out to study variations in the parameters of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field and the response of the magnetosphere to external influences. The work is based on experimental data on relativistic electron fluxes obtained from the GOES-15 geostationary satellite and the Van Allen Probes A spacecraft, whose orbit passed through the core of the outer radiation belt near the equatorial plane. It is shown that the magnetic field variations associated with external influences on the magnetosphere (pressure pulses) and with the proper dynamics of the latter (substorm activity) control the dynamics of electron fluxes in the outer radiation belt.