ABSTRACT
The bremsstrahlung from high and relativistic energy electron precipitation (HEEP) measured with balloon based instruments provides information on energy spectra and fluence of the precipitating energetic electrons allowing calculations of the atmospheric ionization. HEEP from the outer radiation belt at the subauroral region causes an increase in the ionization rates down to about 20â¯km altitudes. We study the variability in the ionization rate using the balloon observations of secondary bremsstrahlung initiated by HEEP. For the first time the changes of atmospheric ionization rates on an hourly and minute time scale at different altitudes was retrieved from balloon observations. These new highlights are important for atmospheric electricity that is sensitive to the local condition in the atmosphere including the local ionization rate.
ABSTRACT
Sporadic solar energetic particle (SEP) events affect the Earth's atmosphere and environment, in particular leading to depletion of the protective ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere, and pose potential technological and even life hazards. The greatest SEP storm known for the last 11 millennia (the Holocene) occurred in 774-775 AD, serving as a likely worst-case scenario being 40-50 times stronger than any directly observed one. Here we present a systematic analysis of the impact such an extreme event can have on the Earth's atmosphere. Using state-of-the-art cosmic ray cascade and chemistry-climate models, we successfully reproduce the observed variability of cosmogenic isotope 10Be, around 775 AD, in four ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, thereby validating the models in the assessment of this event. We add to prior conclusions that any nitrate deposition signal from SEP events remains too weak to be detected in ice cores by showing that, even for such an extreme solar storm and sub-annual data resolution, the nitrate deposition signal is indistinguishable from the seasonal cycle. We show that such a severe event is able to perturb the polar stratosphere for at least one year, leading to regional changes in the surface temperature during northern hemisphere winters.
