TREND: Trapped Radiation Environment Model Development (ESA 1988-2000)

The four Trapped Radiation ENvironment model Development studies were initiated and funded by ESA under ESTEC contracts between 1988 and 2000. The participating institutes were:

  • Matra Marconi Space (TREND-1)
  • Space Technology Ireland (TREND-1)
  • Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (TREND-1, 2, 3, 4)
  • Mullard Space Science Laboratory (TREND-2, 3)
  • Max Planck Institut für Aeronomie (TREND-3)
  • Département d'Études et de Recherches en Technologie Spatiale (TREND-4)
  • Paul Scherrer Institute (TREND-4)

ESA Technical Manager: Eamonn Daly

TREND-1: Development Study of Improved Models of the Earth's Radiation Environment

Initial study made under ESA/Contract No. 9011/88/NL/MAC with as objectives

  • to evaluate existing models of the Earth's radiation environment;
  • to identify their limitations, and to outline requirements for future generation of environmental models;
  • to identify the relevant particle measurements which are available to improve existing Earth's radiation environment models;
  • to analyse some of these data and contribute a new step to long-term modelling efforts which started at NSSDC/WDC-A-R&S in the 60's;
  • to make recommendation for future flight measurements and monitoring of the Earth's radiation environment.

TREND-2: Trapped Radiation Environment Model Development

Study made under ESA/Contract No. 9828/92/NL/FM covering

  • the comparison of the Soviet radiation environment models with NASA’s AP-8 and AE-8 models;
  • the extension of ESA radiation modeling tools with improved magnetic-field models, new models, and corrections for South Atlantic Anomaly motion;
  • the investigation of alternative coordinate system to model low-altitude trapped proton environment using atmospheric-density averaging methods;
  • the analyse of several electron and proton measurement datasets;
  • the improvement of radiation electron belt models.

TREND-3: Radiation Environments of Astronomy Missions and LEO Missions

Study made under ESA/Contracts No. 10725/94/NL/JG(SC) and No. 11711/95/NL/JG(SC) where

  • new radiation belt models (based on AZUR/EI-88, SAMPEX/PET, UARS/PEM, CRRES/MEA, and ISEE/WIM) have been developed, intercompared when applicable, and compared to the standard NASA models AP-8 or AE-8;
  • a comprehensive Fortran subroutine library (UNILIB) for calculating magnetic coordinates and adiabatic invariants, performing coordinate transformations, field line and drift shell tracing, and computing averages of atmospheric and ionospheric density over drift shells has been developed;
  • the anisotropy of the low-altitude trapped proton flux has been extensively studied.

TREND-4: Time-Dependent Radiation-Belt Space Weather Modelling

Study made under ESA/Contract No. 11711/95/NL/JG addressing two specific aspects:

  • the storm-time behaviour of trapped electrons in the outer part of the radiation belts;
  • the anisotropy and variability on different time scales of the trapped protons at the inner edge of the radiation belts.

Data and Resources

Tags

Cite this as (APA format)

Lemaire, J. F., Heynderickx, D., Johnstone, A. D., Garres, C., Ferrante, G., Loidl, G., Borde, J., Jones, G. H., Rodgers, D. J., Roth, M., Kruglanski, M., Szita, S., Domange, P., Pierrard, V., Keppler, E., Friedel, R., Fonteyn, D., Buehler, P., Bosher, D., … Wisemberg, J. (2026). TREND: Trapped Radiation Environment Model Development (ESA 1988-2000) (Version 1). Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. https://doi.org/10.18758/e2ig923b

Users of this DOI are kindly encouraged to contact the author(s) for help and cooperation towards further successful utilisation.

Author(s)
Principal

Lemaire, Joseph Forcid, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Other(s)

Heynderickx, Danielorcid, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; Johnstone, Alan D., UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory; Garres, C., Matra Marconi Space; Ferrante, G., Matra Marconi Space; Loidl, G., Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie; Borde, J., Matra Marconi Space; Jones, Geraint H.orcid, UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory; Rodgers, David J., UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory; Roth, Michel, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; Kruglanski, Michelorcid, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; Szita, Sarah, UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory; Domange, P., Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; Pierrard, Vivianeorcid, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; Keppler, E., Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie; Friedel, Reinhardorcid, Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie; Fonteyn, Dominique, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; Buehler, Paulorcid, Paul Scherrer Institute; Bosher, Daniel, Département d'Études et de Recherches en Technologie Spatiale; Loh, G., Space Technology Ireland; McKenna-Lawlor , Susan M. P., Space Technology Ireland; Wisemberg, Jacques, Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy;

Contact data-contact of Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy

Technical info
Documentation
Is producing (compiling,...)

Heynderickx, D., Kruglanski, M. (2026). AZUR/EI-88: Medium-energy low-altitude trapped proton and alpha-particle data (1969-1970) (Version 1) [Data set]. Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. https://doi.org/10.18758/40t59lob
Other structured data

{ "@context": { "cmr": "https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov/kms/concept/", "dcat": "http://www.w3.org/ns/dcat#", "skos": "http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#" }, "dcat:theme": [ { "@id": "cmr:50e1aaa9-fea0-4322-8ba1-cf39efce9daa", "skos:prefLabel": { "@language": "en", "@value": "VAN ALLEN RADIATION BELTS" } } ] }

Temporal features

Additional info
Funding details

  • ESA/Contract 9011/88/NL/MAC

  • ESA/Contract 9828/92/NL/FM

  • ESA/Contract 10725/94/NL/JG(SC)

  • ESA/Contract 11711/95/NL/JG(SC)

  • ESA/Contract 11711/95/NL/JG
Repository homepage

https://data.aeronomie.be/dataset/
Last Updated

September 22, 2026
Created

September 22, 2026

Spatial features

No spatial information