SEP spectra derived from neutron monitor data and from EPHIN space detector data during recent GLEs and sub-GLEs

The Electron Proton Helium Instrument (EPHIN) aboard the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) observed several SEP events with protons accelerated to energies E>500 MeV, whereas no neutron monitor (NM) of the worldwide network showed a significant increase in their counting rate. For instance, the SEP event on 8 November 2000 with maximum proton intensity at 500 MeV of >0.1 (cm2 s sr MeV)-1 is outstanding, as this maximum pro-ton flux is comparable with the GLEs on 14 July 2000 and on 15 April 2001 (max. count rate increase in 5-min data of 225% at South Pole NM). In a first step we applied a forward modelling approach of the SEP event on 8 November 2000, i.e. we computed the expected NM count rate increases for selected NM stations, utilizing as input para-meters the SEP spectra determined from EPHIN data as well as anticipated pitch angle distribution and apparent source direction. The simulated count rate increases for selected NM stations showed that this SEP event should have be seen as a clear GLE. To further understand this situation, we investigated in a next step recent GLEs and sub-GLEs. Consequently, a total of four SEP events were selected, two clearly identified GLEs and two sub-GLEs. We performed a “GLE analysis” based on the data of the worldwide network of NMs for each of the four SEP events and then compared the derived SEP spectra with the proton spectra as determined from EPHIN measurements

NMDB@Home: 1st virtual symposium on cosmic ray studies with neutron detectors

An overview on the presentations at the first virtual symposium on cosmic ray studies with neutron detectors is given. The meeting was held online in July 2020. Neutron detectors on ground are shown to provide significant contributions to research on interactions of galactic cosmic rays with magnetic fields in the Heliosphere and on the acceleration of energetic particles, as well as to a growing range of applications, including geophysics and space weather. The advent of easily accessible databases makes original data easily available to a large user community. The present overview outlines and introduces the more detailed articles contained in the proceedings

NMDB@Athens: Hybrid symposium on cosmic ray studies with neutron detectors

A brief overview is given regarding the presentations delivered at the NMDB@Athens meeting which was held, in a hybrid fashion, in September 2022. Participants joined both remotely but also physically at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Unlike traditional cosmic ray meetings and conferences where the focus is mainly on the science related to neutron monitor measurements, the ›NMDB@Athens‹ meeting uniquely also addresses hardware issues related to these instruments and, importantly, also databases where different data products can be accessed by a growing and increasingly diverse user base. The present overview outlines and introduces the more detailed articles contained in the proceedings

What are the causes for the spread of GLE parameters deduced from NM data?

Investigations have shown that the analysis results of ground level enhancements (GLEs) based on neutron monitor (NM) data for a selected event can differ considerably depending the procedure used. This may have significant consequences e.g. for the assessment of radiation doses at flight altitudes. The reasons for the spread of the GLE parameters deduced from NM data can be manifold and are at present unclear. They include differences in specific properties of the various analysis procedures (e.g. NM response functions, different ways in taking into account the dynamics of the Earth’s magnetospheric field), different characterisations of the solar particle flux near Earth as well as the specific selection of NM stations used for the analysis. In the present paper we quantitatively investigate this problem for a time interval during the maximum phase of the GLE on 13 December 2006. We present and discuss the changes in the resulting GLE parameters when using different NM response functions, different model representations of the Earth’s magnetospheric field as well as different assumptions for the solar particle spectrum and pitch angle distribution near Earth. The results of the study are expected to yield a basis for the reduction in the spread of the GLE parameters deduced from NM data

Differences in published characteristics of GLE60 and their consequences on computed radiation dose rates along selected flight paths

The radiation dose rates at flight altitudes can increase by orders of magnitude for a short time during energetic solar cosmic ray events, so called ground level enhancements (GLEs). Especially at high latitudes and flight altitudes, solar energetic particles superposed on galactic cosmic rays may cause radiation that exceeds the maximum allowed dosage limit for the general public. Therefore the determination of the radiation dose rate during GLEs should be as reliable as possible. Radiation dose rates along flight paths are typically determined by computer models that are based on cosmic ray flux and anisotropy parameters derived from neutron monitor and/or satellite measurements. The characteristics of the GLE on 15 April 2001 (GLE60) were determined and published by various authors. In this work we compare these results and investigate the consequences on the computed radiation dose rates along selected flight paths. In addition, we compare the computed radiation dose rates with measurements that were made during GLE60 on board two transatlantic flights