TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Dedong A1 - Shprits, Yuri Y. T1 - On How High-Latitude Chorus Waves Tip the Balance Between Acceleration and Loss of Relativistic Electrons T2 - Geophysical research letters N2 - Modeling and observations have shown that energy diffusion by chorus waves is an important source of acceleration of electrons to relativistic energies. By performing long-term simulations using the three-dimensional Versatile Electron Radiation Belt code, in this study, we test how the latitudinal dependence of chorus waves can affect the dynamics of the radiation belt electrons. Results show that the variability of chorus waves at high latitudes is critical for modeling of megaelectron volt (MeV) electrons. We show that, depending on the latitudinal distribution of chorus waves under different geomagnetic conditions, they cannot only produce a net acceleration but also a net loss of MeV electrons. Decrease in high-latitude chorus waves can tip the balance between acceleration and loss toward acceleration, or alternatively, the increase in high-latitude waves can result in a net loss of MeV electrons. Variations in high-latitude chorus may account for some of the variability of MeV electrons. KW - radiation belts KW - chorus waves KW - high latitude KW - acceleration KW - loss KW - modeling Y1 - 2019 UR - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/48684 SN - 0094-8276 SN - 1944-8007 VL - 46 IS - 14 SP - 7945 EP - 7954 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER -