Open AccessObservation of solar particle event on board a commercial flight from Los Angeles to New York on 29 October 2003
Author(s) -
Getley Ian L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
space weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.254
H-Index - 56
ISSN - 1542-7390
DOI - 10.1029/2003sw000058
Subject(s) - cosmic ray , coronal mass ejection , solar flare , atmosphere (unit) , solar energetic particles , neutron monitor , atmospheric sciences , physics , health threat from cosmic rays , space weather , aircrew , altitude (triangle) , flare , astronomy , environmental science , meteorology , aerospace engineering , nuclear physics , solar wind , plasma , engineering , geometry , mathematics
The enhanced radiation associated with solar particle events and in particular the secondary ionization doses created by the neutron flux in the upper atmosphere resulting from both cosmic ray and solar particle interaction with constituents of the atmosphere, pose an additional significant risk to both aircrew and passengers at aircraft altitude. Whilst the elevated x‐ray component from a solar flare or coronal mass ejection (CME) can be significant, the effects of large particle events to the secondary radiation environment at jet aircraft cruising altitudes, can have consequences for both people and micro electronics used in modern generation aircraft. It has been shown that dose rates increase with higher latitudes and altitudes, and due to the geomagnetic field effect that deflects incoming solar and galactic cosmic rays, we get greater shielding closer to the equator. Generally increasing latitude appears to have a greater effect on increasing secondary radiation than altitude alone and this is certainly so during a solar flare or solar particle event.