A source for the geomagnetic storm main phase ring current

Abstract

The paper considers a proposed source for the geomagnetic storm main phase ring current. It is shown that the flux increases of trapped ions and electrons observed by Explorer 45 at L below 4 during two large geomagnetic storms can be explained by inward radial displacement of the preexisting trapped particle distribution. The proposed source requires only the acceleration of the previously entrapped particle population by inward displacement under conservation of the first two adiabatic invariants. It is suggested that a significant difference between large geomagnetic storms and typical substorm activity may be the inward convection occurring over a large longitude range during storms, but only over a small longitude range during typical substorms.