Relativistic Electron Microburst Events: Modeling the Atmosp

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TitleRelativistic Electron Microburst Events: Modeling the Atmospheric ImpactAbstractRelativistic electron microbursts are short‐duration, high‐energy precipitation events that are an important loss mechanism for radiation belt particles. Previous work to estimate their atmospheric impacts found no significant changes in atmospheric chemistry. Recent research on microbursts revealed that both the fluxes and frequency of microbursts are much higher than previously thought. We test the seasonal range of atmospheric impacts using this latest microburst information as input forcing to the Sodankylä Ion and Neutral Chemistry model. A modeled 6 h microburst storm increased mesospheric HOx by 15–25%/800–1,200% (summer/winter) and NOx by 1,500–2,250%/80–120%. Together, these drive 7–12%/12–20% upper mesospheric ozone losses, with a further 10–12% longer‐term middle mesospheric loss during winter. Our results suggest that existing electron precipitation proxies, which do not yet take relativistic microburst energies into account, are likely missing a significant source of precipitation that contributes to atmospheric ozone balance. ©2018. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.Funding Details258165, Academy of Finland; 265005, Academy of Finland; 276926, Academy of Finland; NERC, Natural Environment Research Council; Caltech, California Institute of Technology

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1st AuthorSeppälä, A. AuthorSeppälä, A.Douma, E.Rodger, C.Verronen, P.Clilverd, M.Bortnik, J.Year2018JournalGeophysical Research LettersVolume45Number2Pages1141-1147DOI10.1002/2017GL075949URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/recor.....30eb98762bb39ad52e099fc32PublisherBlackwell Publishing LtdKeywordsElectronsIonizationMagnetosphereNitrogen oxidesOzoneRadiation belts, Atmospheric impactAtmospheric ozoneElectron precipitationMicroburstsNeutral chemistryPrecipitation eventsRadiation belt particleRelativistic electron, Atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric dynamicsatmospheric forcingelectronionizationmesospheremodelmodelingnitrous oxideozoneprecipitation (chemistry)seasonal variationstormAuthor Keywordselectron precipitationHOxionizationmicroburstsNOxozone

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CitationSeppälä, A., Douma, E., Rodger, C., Verronen, P., Clilverd, M. and Bortnik, J. (2018). Relativistic Electron Microburst Events: Modeling the Atmospheric Impact. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(2): 1141-1147