Space Weather and the Ground-Level Solar Proton Events of the 23rd Solar Cycle

• Published in: Space science reviews Vol. 171; no. 1-4; pp. 161 - 188
• Main Authors: Shea, M. A., Smart, D. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-10-2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Aircraft; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Corona; Cosmic rays; Ionization; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Protons; Solar energy; Solar physics; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Spacecraft; Sun; Space weather; GLEs; Solar protons; Ground-level cosmic ray events
• ISSN: 0038-6308; 1572-9672
• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-012-9923-z

Solar proton events can adversely affect space and ground-based systems. Ground-level events are a subset of solar proton events that have a harder spectrum than average solar proton events and are detectable on Earth’s surface by cosmic radiation ionization chambers, muon detectors, and neutron monitors. This paper summarizes the space weather effects associated with ground-level solar proton events during the 23rd solar cycle. These effects include communication and navigation systems, spacecraft electronics and operations, space power systems, manned space missions, and commercial aircraft operations. The major effect of ground-level events that affect manned spacecraft operations is increased radiation exposure. The primary effect on commercial aircraft operations is the loss of high frequency communication and, at extreme polar latitudes, an increase in the radiation exposure above that experienced from the background galactic cosmic radiation. Calculations of the maximum potential aircraft polar route exposure for each ground-level event of the 23rd solar cycle are presented. The space weather effects in October and November 2003 are highlighted together with on-going efforts to utilize cosmic ray neutron monitors to predict high energy solar proton events, thus providing an alert so that system operators can possibly make adjustments to vulnerable spacecraft operations and polar aircraft routes.