Precipitation

Optics

Physics

Magnetosphere

Sociology

Electron scattering

Electron

Demography

Meteorology

Van Allen Probes

Atomic physics

Nuclear physics

Scattering

Anthropology

Electron precipitation

Population

Computational physics

Emic and etic

Astrophysics

Van Allen radiation belt

Geophysics

Plasma

Atmospheric sciences

Geophysical Research Letters

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are potentially important drivers of the loss of energetic electrons from the radiation belts. Numerous theoretical calculations exist with conflicting predictions of one of the key parameters: the minimum resonance energy of electrons precipitated into the atmosphere by EMIC waves. In this study we initially analyze an EMIC electron precipitation event using data from two different spacecraft instruments to investigate the energies involved. Combining observations from these satellites, we find that the electron precipitation has a peak flux at ∼250 keV. Extending the analysis technique to a previously published database of similar scattering events, we find that the peak electron precipitation flux occurs predominantly around 300 keV, with only ∼11% of events peaking in the 1–4 MeV range. Such a significant population of low‐energy EMIC‐driven electron precipitation events highlights the possibility for EMIC waves to be significant drivers of radiation belt electron losses.

Evidence of sub‐MeV EMIC‐driven electron precipitation