Ionization effects in the middle stratosphere due to cosmic rays during strong GLE events

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>An important topic in the field of solar-terrestrial and space physics is the highly discussed possible effect of cosmic ray (CR) particles on atmospheric chemistry and physics, specifically by induced ionization. In most of the recently developed models, the induced by CRs atmospheric ionization plays a significant role. Nowadays, it is clear that the contribution of galactic cosmic ray particles to electron-ion production in the atmosphere slightly varies with the solar modulation and transient effects. On the other hand, high energy solar particles could produce complicated hadron-electromagnetic-muon cascade in the atmosphere of the Earth and significantly enhance the electron-ion pair production, particularly over polar caps. This effect is usually strong on a short time scales, being more important in the region of Regener–Pfotzer maximum. However, for some atmospheric chemistry and physics purposes it is important to estimate the ionization effect in the middle stratosphere. The Ground Level Enhancement GLE 59 on Bastille Day 14 of July 2000 and the maverick GLE 70 on 13 December 2006 are among the strongest recorded events during the previous solar cycle 23. Herein, using recently proposed full target Monte Carlo simulation and previously derived high energy solar particles energy spectra we estimated the electron-ion production rate and corresponding ionization effect in the Earth middle stratosphere during two moderately strong ground level enhancement events.</p></div>