Quiet time distribution of plasma pressure in the inner earthʹs magnetosphere Original Research Article

Trapped particles of the radiation belts provide a considerable part of plasma pressure at low L-shells. The evaluations of this part during quiet times can be made on the basis of existing trapped radiation models. The radial profiles of plasma pressure at 1.2 < L < 7 were obtained by using the empirical AP8MAX model of trapped radiation (L < 6.6) and the theoretical model of the distribution of the proton fluxes in the Earthʹs radiation belts (L < 7) developed on the basis of the numerical solution of the radial diffusion equation with dissipation processes. The calculations were compared with AMPTE/CCE data. The contribution of quiet-time plasma pressure profile producing the quiet-time ring current to Dst-variation was obtained about 15 nT which is comparative with the magnetic field disturbances during weak and moderate magnetic storms (Dst = −40 ≈ −100 nT).