Simulation Study of the Inner Magnetosphere for May 2-6, 1998

Using the University of Michigan`s BATS-R-US MHD Model to drive the Fok Radiation Belt and Ring Current Models, we will examine the relative importance of different mechanisms for energy gains and flux enhancements for the inner magnetosphere during the May 2-6, 1998 storm. The global model provides the magnetic and electric fields for the inner magnetospheric models. The inner magnetospheric models solve the bounce-averaged distribution function for protons and electrons including terms for diffusion, convection, and loss processes. In particular we will examine how energy diffusion in the radiation belt model impacts flux enhancements during the recovery stage. We will also investigate how different mechanisms in the ring current model impact the rapid recovery on May 4. We will compare the results of the radiation belt and ring current models to LANL geosynchronous data to validate the results of the models.