The Flux and Fluence of Major Solar Proton Events and their Record in Antarctic Snow

• Main Authors: Shea, M. A., Smart, D. F., Dreschhoff, G. A., Zeller, E. J.
• Other Authors: PHILLIPS LAB HANSCOM AFB MA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1993
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Geomagnetism; Geography; Nuclear Physics & Elementary Particle Physics; *FLUX(RATE); *PROTONS; *SNOW; *SOLAR FLARES; *ANTARCTIC REGIONS; GROUND LEVEL; SUN; EXTREMITIES; COSMIC RAYS; NITRATES; STORMS; CONCENTRATION(CHEMISTRY); ICE; REPRINTS; MEASUREMENT; *FLUNCES; *GEOMAGNETIC STORMS; EVENTS; PE61102F; WUPL2311G402; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA277485; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA277485

A study of the major solar proton events since 1955 has shown that the large fluence events are likely to be associated with a solar flare source near the central meridian of the sun while the events with large peak proton- flux are likely to be associated with solar flares near the west limb of the sun. We compare the solar proton events to the measurements of nitrate concentrations in the Antarctic ice and find that the largest concentrations are associated with the major fluence events. From these results we are able to assign a probable solar proton event source to three of the major peaks in the nitrate record prior to 1955. Solar proton events, Ground level events, Geomagnetic storms, Solar flares, Cosmic rays. Pub. in International Cosmic Ray Conference (23rd), Conference Paper 3, p846-849, 1993. Prepared in collaboration with University of Kansas Space Technology Center, Lawrence, KS under AFOSR contract no. AFOSR-88-0065.