Dynamics of Relativistic Electron Fluxes of the Outer Radiation Belt during Geomagnetic Disturbances of Different Intensity

The results of a study of the dependence of the dynamics of relativistic electron fluxes of the Earth’s outer radiation belt on the geomagnetic storm intensity are presented. A total of 22 geomagnetic storms with |Dst|max of ∼50 to ∼200 nT are considered. The studies are based on experimental data on fluxes of electrons with an energy of ~2 MeV received from the Van Allen Probe spacecraft in the core of radiation belts and from the GOES satellite in geostationary orbit. It is shown that the dominant influence on the dynamics of relativistic electrons in the core of the Earth’s outer radiation belt during strong magnetic storms with |Dst|max ~ ≥120 nT is exerted by global changes of the magnetospheric magnetic field, which lead to adiabatic variations of fluxes of relativistic electrons.