Index Geophysics

Assessment of spectral and angular characteristics of sub-GLE events using the global neutron monitor network

New recently installed high-altitude polar neutron monitors (NMs) have made the worldwide NM network more sensitive to strong solar energetic particle (SEP) events, registered at ground level, namely ground-level enhancement (GLE) events. The DOMC/B and South Pole NMs in addition to marginal cut-off rigidity also possess lower atmospheric cut-off compared to the sea level. As a result, the two high-altitude polar NM stations are able to detect lower energy SEP events, which most likely would not be registered by the other (near sea level) NMs. Here, we consider several candidates for such type of events called sub-GLEs. Using the worldwide NM database (NMDB) records and an optimization procedure combined with simulation of the global NM network response, we assess the spectral and angular characteristics of sub-GLE particles. With the estimated spectral characteristics as an input, we evaluate the effective dose rate in polar and sub-polar regions at typical commercial flight altitude. Hence, we demonstrate that the global NM network is a useful tool to estimate important space weather effects, e.g., the aircrew exposure due to cosmic rays of galactic and/or solar origins.

Mishev Alexander

Poluianov Stepan

Usoskin Ilya

SEP

GLE and sub-GLE events

neutron monitor network

spectral and angular characteristics of SEPs

radiation environment

Meteorology. Climatology

QC851-999

EDP Sciences

2017-01-01T00:00:00Z

article

2115-7251

10.1051/swsc/2017026

https://doaj.org/article/4db81a28741545d1840ff6629ec83ead

Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate , Vol 7, p A28 (2017)

EN

https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2017026

https://doaj.org/toc/2115-7251

Journal Licence: CC BY-NC