Open AccessStatistics of plasma fluxes at geosynchronous orbit over more than a full solar cycle
Author(s) -
Thomsen M. F.,
Denton M. H.,
Lavraud B.,
Bodeau M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
space weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.254
H-Index - 56
ISSN - 1542-7390
DOI - 10.1029/2006sw000257
Subject(s) - geosynchronous orbit , satellite , flux (metallurgy) , earth's magnetic field , percentile , solar wind , environmental science , physics , meteorology , solar cycle , plasma , astronomy , nuclear physics , statistics , mathematics , materials science , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
The extensive database of plasma measurements from Los Alamos geosynchronous satellites is used to derive a statistical characterization of the geosynchronous fluxes of ions and electrons between the energies of ∼40 eV and ∼45 keV. The database covers more than an entire solar cycle and all levels of geomagnetic activity. The derived flux averages and various percentile levels thus describe the environment to which geosynchronous satellites are exposed over their lifetimes and should provide a useful tool to guide satellite design and testing. The mission‐averaged fluxes agree very well with other recent analyses in the energy ranges of overlap.