Validating the new SEE low altitude proton model

Abstract

The low altitude (860 km) weather satellites TIROS-N and the NOAA series measured the inner zone energetic protons for more than a solar cycle. Data from the 16-215, 36-215, and 80-215 MeV omnidirectional proton sensors have been corrected for magnetic field model and time-tagging errors and then organized in terms of the average column-density of residual atmosphere along their drift path. The solar cycle variation in the F/sub 10.7/ index is used as a proxy for the solar cycle variation in scale height of the atmosphere. A phase lag in the atmospheric response must be included in the analysis. This approach results in a well-organized data set for an entire solar cycle. The program which is still underway, has produced a preliminary 80-215 MeV model for the region below 860 km. The model is organized in terms of L, B/B/sub min/, and F/sub 10.7/. The model is cross-correlated with Hubble Space Telescope anomaly data (623 km altitude orbit). This model correctly predicts a solar-cycle-associated westward shift in the effective location of the South Atlantic Anomaly, while AP8 does not.