Magnetic Field Line Curvature Induced Pitch Angle Diffusion in the Transien Proton Belts

When magnetic field line curvature, R_c, is small compared to a particle's ``total'' gyroradius (the ratio of the particle's speed to its gyrofrequency), its first adiabatic invariant will change. Recent calculations have shown that diffusion caused by particle interactions with magnetic field line curvature (of FLC induced diffusion) can be a significant loss mechanism for the transient proton radiation belts which form outside of L=3.5. In this study, we examine the August 1990 transient belt seen in data from the PROTEL instrument on board the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) for signatures of FLC induced diffusion calculations. We show evidence of FLC induced diffusion, and discuss the limitations of our study as well as possible future improvements.