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Post-eruptive loops in the wake of a solar flare, image taken by the TRACE satellite (photo by NASA). In solar physics, a solar particle event (SPE), also known as a solar energetic particle event or solar radiation storm, [a] [1] is a solar phenomenon which occurs when particles emitted by the Sun, mostly protons, become accelerated either in the Sun's atmosphere during a solar flare or in ...
Solar energetic particles (SEP), formerly known as solar cosmic rays, are high-energy, charged particles originating in the solar atmosphere and solar wind. They consist of protons , electrons and heavy ions with energies ranging from a few tens of keV to many GeV .
These particles (mostly protons) are accelerated to high energies either within the solar atmosphere or in interplanetary space, with some debate as to the predominant acceleration method. [1] While solar particle events typically involve solar energetic particles at 10–100 MeV, GLEs involve particles with energies higher than about 400 MeV. [2]
Shocks in the upper corona driven by CMEs can also accelerate solar energetic particles toward the Earth resulting in gradual solar particle events. Interactions between these energetic particles and the Earth can cause an increase in the number of free electrons in the ionosphere, especially in the high-latitude polar regions, enhancing radio ...
Solar flares strongly influence space weather near the Earth. They can produce streams of highly energetic particles in the solar wind, known as a solar proton event. These particles can impact the Earth's magnetosphere in the form of a geomagnetic storm and present radiation hazards to spacecraft and astronauts. A solar flare
Intense solar storms may also be hazardous to high-latitude, high-altitude aviation [7] and to human spaceflight. [8] Geomagnetic storms are the cause of aurora. [9] The most significant known solar storm, across the most parameters, occurred in September 1859 and is known as the "Carrington event". [10]
Animation of Advanced Composition Explorer's orbit viewed from the Sun Earth · Advanced Composition Explorer ACE in orbit around the Sun–Earth L 1 point. Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE or Explorer 71) is a NASA Explorer program satellite and space exploration mission to study matter comprising energetic particles from the solar wind, the interplanetary medium, and other sources.
galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and extragalactic cosmic rays, i.e., high-energy particles originating outside the solar system, and; solar energetic particles, high-energy particles (predominantly protons) emitted by the sun, primarily in solar eruptions. However, the term "cosmic ray" is often used to refer to only the extrasolar flux.