Analysis of the Radiation Hazard Observed by RAD on the Surface of Mars During the September 2017 Solar Particle Event

Zeitlin, C.; Hassler, D. M.; Guo, Jingnan; Ehresmann, Bent; Wimmer‐Schweingruber, Robert F.; Rafkin, Scot; Forstner, J. L. Freiherr von; Lohf, H.; Berger, Thomas; Matthiäe, D.; Reitz, Günther

doi:10.1029/2018gl077760

Cited by 32 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…At Mars a GLE event was also observed. As reported by Zeitlin et al (), Ehresmann et al (), and Guo, Dumbovic, et al (), MSL/RAD observed enhancements in the surface radiation dose rates and particles fluxes beginning at 19:50 UT on 10 September 2017, making this event the first simultaneous GLE observation at two planets. Located at the Gale Crater, MSL/RAD has been continuously measuring the radiation environment at the surface since 2012 (Hassler et al, ).…”

Section: Seps At Marssupporting

confidence: 75%

“…For the surface dose rates, MSL/RAD observed factors of 2–3 increase above the GCR‐induced background levels (Zeitlin et al, ). In terms of the radiation hazards posed by SEPs, the integrated dose over a 30‐day interval including the SEP period was well below the NASA exposure limits for astronauts (Zeitlin et al, ). Figure m shows the measured dose rates from the MSL/RAD‐E (plastic) detector.…”

Section: Seps At Marsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Observations and Impacts of the 10 September 2017 Solar Events at Mars: An Overview and Synthesis of the Initial Results

Lee

Jakosky

Luhmann

et al. 2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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117

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On 10 September 2017, some of the strongest solar activity occurred in association with active region 12673 (AR2673), including an X‐class solar flare and a fast coronal mass ejection. Although AR2673 was not centrally facing Mars, the activity impacted the local space weather conditions at Mars. We give an overview of observations obtained from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, Mars Science Laboratory, and Mars Express missions. Numerical results from the Wang‐Sheeley‐Arge (WSA)‐Enlil‐cone model together with Earth/L1 and STEREO‐A observations are also presented to provide some heliospheric context. We discuss the initial results on the space weather impacts at Mars, which include heating of the upper atmosphere by solar flare emissions, flare‐related enhancements of ion and neutral densities, solar energetic particles impacting the atmosphere and surface, bright emissions of a diffuse (global) aurora, deeply penetrating interplanetary magnetic fields over the Martian dayside, and enhanced atmospheric escape rates.

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Section: Seps At Marssupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Seps At Marsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations and Impacts of the 10 September 2017 Solar Events at Mars: An Overview and Synthesis of the Initial Results

Lee

Jakosky

Luhmann

et al. 2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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117

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“…In comparison to the ISS, MSL‐RAD on the surface of Mars observed a dose rate of 0.4 μGy/min at the time of the second “main” peak of the event 07:30 UTC on 11 September 2017, while the onset of the event was already seen on 10 September at around 19:50 UTC. The total dose from the event observed with the MSL‐RAD B subdetector was 418 μGy in Si (Ehresmann et al, ; Hassler et al, ; Zeitlin et al, ).…”

Section: Data Analysis and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Solar Particle Event on 10 September 2017 as observed onboard the International Space Station (ISS)

et al. 2018

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The nominal radiation environment in low Earth orbit, especially for the International Space Station (ISS), is dominated by two sources. The first is galactic cosmic radiation, which is modulated by the interplanetary and the Earth's magnetic fields, and the second is trapped radiation in the form of the Van Allen belts. The trapped radiation inside the ISS is mostly due to protons of the inner radiation belt. In addition to these sources sporadic solar particle events (SPEs) can produce high doses inside and outside the ISS, depending on the intensity and energy spectrum of the event. Before 2017, the last SPE observed inside the ISS with relevant radiation detectors occurred in May 2012. Even though we are currently approaching the next solar minimum, an SPE was observed in September 2017, which was (a) a ground‐level enhancement, (b) measured with various radiation detector systems onboard the ISS, and (c) observed on the surface of Mars. This paper gives an overview of the 10 September 2017 SPE measured with the DOSIS 3D‐DOSTEL and the ISS‐RAD (Radiation Assessment Detector) instruments, both located at this time in close proximity to each other in the Columbus Laboratory of the ISS. The additional dose received during the SPE was 146.2 μGy in Si as measured by ISS‐RAD and 67.8 μGy in Si as measured by the DOSIS 3D‐DOSTEL instruments. In comparison, the dose measured on the surface of Mars with the Mars Science Laboratory‐RAD instrument accounted to 418 μGy in Si.

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“…The onset of the event was measured by MSL‐RAD on the surface of Mars on 10 September at around 19:50 UTC (Ehresmann et al, ; Zeitlin et al, ) about 4 hr after the onset at Earth. The total dose measured with the MSL‐RAD B detectors amounts to 418 μGy in Si for the event (Zeitlin et al, ) which is less than twice the daily dose from GCR.…”

Section: Calculated Radiation Exposures During the Eventmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Solar Particle Event on 10–13 September 2017: Spectral Reconstruction and Calculation of the Radiation Exposure in Aviation and Space

2018

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The solar energetic particle event on 10 September 2017 and on the following days was the strongest event in recent years. It was recorded as ground level enhancement 72 by neutron monitor stations on Earth and measured by a number of instruments in space. One aspect of such a space weather event is the potentially increased radiation exposure in aviation and space. Numerical simulations can help estimate the elevated dose rates during such an event; a critical aspect in these simulations is the description of the primary particle spectrum. In this work, we present 1-hr averaged proton spectra during the event derived from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite measurements and described by two different analytic functions. The derived proton spectra are used to calculate the radiation exposure in aviation and different space scenarios: low-Earth orbit, interplanetary space, and Mars surface, and the results are discussed in the context of available experimental data. While the results indicate that in most of these scenarios in aviation and space the event was of little significance compared to the total exposure from galactic cosmic radiation, the skin dose in a lightly shielded environment in interplanetary space may have reached about 30% to 60% of the NASA 30-day dose limit.

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Analysis of the Radiation Hazard Observed by RAD on the Surface of Mars During the September 2017 Solar Particle Event

Cited by 32 publications

References 12 publications

Observations and Impacts of the 10 September 2017 Solar Events at Mars: An Overview and Synthesis of the Initial Results

Observations and Impacts of the 10 September 2017 Solar Events at Mars: An Overview and Synthesis of the Initial Results

The Solar Particle Event on 10 September 2017 as observed onboard the International Space Station (ISS)

The Solar Particle Event on 10–13 September 2017: Spectral Reconstruction and Calculation of the Radiation Exposure in Aviation and Space

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