The 2022 February 15 Solar Energetic Particle Event at Mars: A Synergistic Study Combining Multiple Radiation Detectors on the Surface and in Orbit of Mars With Models

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 51; no. 19
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jian, Guo, Jingnan, Zhang, Yongjie, Cao, Yihang, Dobynde, Mikhail I., Li, Cunhui, Yu, Yuhong, Wang, Yuming, Tang, Shuwen, Qian, Yi, Zhao, Hongyun, Sun, Zhiyu, Wang, Yi, Wimmer‐Schweingruber, Robert F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 16-10-2024; Wiley
• Subjects: Chinese spacecraft; Crew; Curiosity (Mars rover); Deep space; Detectors; Dosimetry; Energetic particles; Energy spectra; Environmental monitoring; Eruptions; Extraterrestrial radiation; Mars; Mars atmosphere; Mars environment; Mars surface; Proton flux; Protons; Radiation detectors; Radiation hazards; Radiation measurement; Radiation monitoring; SEP; Solar cycle; Solar particle events; Solar storms; space radiation; Spacecraft; Trace gases
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2024GL111775

On 2022‐02‐15, solar eruptions caused one of the most intensive Solar Particle Events (SPEs) in Solar Cycle 25 observed at various heliospheric locations. This study focuses on the enhancements of energetic proton flux observed by multiple detectors located at the orbit and on the surface of Mars. We carry out the first analysis by the Mars Energetic Particle Analyzer (MEPA) instrument on board the Chinese Tianwen‐1 spacecraft (TW‐1) at Mars orbit which also serves to validate the instrument's capability to measure protons of up to 100 MeV. We reconstruct the event spectrum up to 1 GeV and further model the event doses at Mars's orbit and surface which are then validated against the corresponding dosimetry data. Our study utilizes all available radiation detectors at Mars, advances our understanding of Mars's radiation environment induced by large SPEs, and emphasizes the necessity of continuous and synergistic radiation monitoring at Mars.
Plain Language Summary
There is a growing interest in exploring Mars in the coming decades. However, a significant obstacle that remains is the presence of space radiation, which poses a considerable and unavoidable threat to crew health, especially during long‐term stays in future Martian habitats. Of particular concern are sporadic energetic particle events caused by strong solar eruptions, which can increase radiation levels in deep space and near Mars to potentially dangerous levels. Notably, a SEP event on 15 February 2022 has caused the first significant radiation enhancement at Mars in Solar Cycle 25 as observed by ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter, Chinese Tianwen‐1 orbiter as well as NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft and the Curiosity rover. By combining data from measurement and modeling techniques, we reconstruct the energy spectrum of this SEP event to understand the potential radiation hazards at Mars.
Key Points
A major solar particle event (SPE) was simultaneously measured by multiple detectors both on the surface and in orbit of Mars
The first analysis of a SPE at Mars measured by the Tianwen‐1 Mars orbiter serves to verify its capacity in high‐energy particle detection
We compare the radiation measurements, both on the surface and in orbit of Mars, with results derived from data‐based models