Comparison of Precipitating Electron Energy Flux on March 22, 1979 with an Empirical Model: CDAW 6

摘要

Data recorded by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, TIROS and P-78-1 satellites for the CDAW 6 event on March 22, 1979, have been compared with a statistical model of precipitating electron fluxes. Comparisons have been made on both an orbit-by-orbit basis and on a global basis by sorting and binning the data by AE index, invariant latitude and magnetic local time in a manner similar to which the model was generated. We conclude that the model flux agrees with the data to within a factor of two, although small features and the exact locations of features are not consistently reproduced. In addition, the latitude of highest electron precipitation usually occurs about 3 more poleward in the model than in the data. We attribute this discrepancy to ring current inflation of the storm time magnetosphere (as evidenced by negative Dst's). We suggest that a similar empirical model based on AL instead of AE and including some indicator of the history of the event would provide an even better comparison. Alternatively, in situ data such as electroject location should be used routinely to normalize the latitude of the auroral precipitation.