A Long-lived Enhancement of >30 keV Electron Fluxes at Very Low L-values

Beginning in May, 2003 and continuing through the summer, the NOAA/POES satellites have observed the >30 keV trapped electron fluxes at L-values between 1.18 and 1.22 elevated by about a factor of 100 over their normal intensities. At lower L-values the electron fluxes have displayed dramatic (factors of 1000 and more), but short lived, intensity increases. We hypothesize that solar wind/magnetospheric activity, especially the storm of May 29, greatly enhanced the energetic electron population at L-values above 1.18 where losses to the atmosphere are low. Continued magnetospheric activity during the summer transported electrons from that reservoir inward in L thus producing large intensity enhancements on drift shells that intersect the atmosphere where the electrons are quickly lost. NOAA/POES observations complemented with data from other spacecraft supporting this hypothesis will be presented.