Model for the geostationary electron environment: POLE

Two and a half solar cycles of electron outer radiation belt measurements were analyzed. The data were acquired with the full range of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, geostationary satellites, covering the period 1976-2001. Cross calibrations of the instruments were performed amongst themselves and referenced to CRRES observations. A model was derived [particle ONERA-LANL electron (POLE)] valid from 30 keV up to 2.5 MeV, which takes into account the solar cycle variation. In general, lower energy (<100 keV) electrons remain constant within 20% during a solar cycle, while the energetic (>500 keV) electrons show variations of over an order of magnitude. It is shown that the variability of these high energy electrons can change quite drastically from one solar cycle to the next.