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Suprathermal ions in the corona are thought to serve as seed particles for large gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) events associated with fast and wide coronal mass ejections (CMEs). A better understanding of the role of suprathermal particles as seed populations for SEP events can be made by using observations close to the Sun. We study a series of SEP events observed by the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (IS⊙IS) suite on board the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) from 2020 May 27 to June 2, during which PSP was at heliocentric distances between ∼0.4 and ∼0.2 au. These events were also observed by the Ahead Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO-A) near 1 au, but the particle intensity magnitude was much lower than that at PSP. We find that the SEPs should have spread in space as their source regions were distant from the nominal magnetic footpoints of both spacecraft and the parent CMEs were slow and narrow. We study the decay phase of the SEP events in the ∼1â€"2 MeV proton energy range at PSP and STEREO-A, and discuss their properties in terms of both continuous injections by successive solar eruptions and the distances where the measurements were made. This study indicates that seed particles can be continuously generated by eruptions associated with slow and narrow CMEs, spread over a large part of the inner heliosphere, and remain there for tens of hours, even if minimal particle intensity enhancements were measured near 1 au. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scenario of twin coronal mass ejections (CMEs), i.e., a fast and wide primary CME (priCME) preceded by preceding CMEs (preCMEs), has been found to be favorable to a more efficient particle acceleration in large solar energetic particle (SEP) events. Here we study 19 events during 2007â€"2014 associated with twin-CME eruptions but without large SEP observations at the L1 point. We combine remote-sensing and in situ observations from multiple spacecraft to investigate the role of magnetic connectivity in SEP detection and the CME information in three-dimensional (3D) space. We study one-on-one correlations of the priCME 3D speed, flare intensity, suprathermal backgrounds, and height of CMEâ€"CME interaction with the SEP intensity. Among these, the priCME speed is found to correlate with the SEP peak intensity at the highest level. We use the projection correlation method to analyze the correlations between combinations of these multiple independent factors and the SEP peak intensity. We find that the only combination of two or more parameters that has a higher correlation with the SEP peak intensity than the CME speed is the CME speed combined with the propagation direction. This further supports the dominant role of the priCME in controlling the SEP enhancements and emphasizes the consideration of the latitudinal effect. Overall, the magnetic connectivity in longitude as well as latitude and the relatively lower priCME speed may explain the existence of the twin-CME SEP-poor events. The role of the barrier effect of preCME(s) is discussed for an event on 2013 October 28. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gradual and large solar energetic particle (SEP) events (flux of ions with energy >10 MeV above 10 pfu) are primarily produced in shocks driven by fast and wide coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Past research, both in theory and statistics, has found that the situation where a fast primary CME (priCME) is preceded by previous CMEs (preCMEs) is favorable to a more efficient particle acceleration. However, the physical causes of this association is still a matter of debate, including the association of the acceleration and release of SEPs with the interaction of successive CMEs. Taking advantage of the twin Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory spacecraft, we study 41 large SEP events in solar cycle 24 by multi-viewpoint observations. Although 21 events (∼51%) have a preCME identifiable in the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph, we determine that the priCMEs overlap the preCMEs in three dimension (3D) for only 11 events (∼27%). We further investigate the acceleration (using type II radio bursts) and release (using velocity dispersion analysis) of the particles for all potential instances of CME–CME interaction in 3D. We find that, for six of 11 events, the priCME is far away from catching up with the preCME when the particles are released. However, for the limited samples, the SEP peak intensity is significantly higher in the events in which the priCME is closest to impacting the preCME, indicating the potential for the increased seed population or more enhanced turbulence levels occurring closer to the preCME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 28 October 2021, solar eruptions caused intense and long‐lasting solar energetic particle (SEP) flux enhancements observed by spacecraft located over a wide longitudinal range in the heliosphere. SEPs arriving at Earth caused the 73rd ground level enhancement (GLE) event recorded by ground‐based neutron monitors. In particular, this is also the first GLE event seen on the surface of three planetary bodies, Earth, Moon, and Mars, by particle and radiation detectors as shown in this study. We derive the event‐integrated proton spectrum from measurements by near‐Earth spacecraft and predict the lunar and martian surface radiation levels using particle transport models. Event doses at the lunar and martian surfaces of previous GLE events are also modeled and compared with the current event. This statistical and comparative study advances our understanding of potential radiation risks induced by extreme SEP events for future human explorations of the Moon and Mars. Plain Language Summary: Human beings are considering going back to the Moon and eventually to Mars within the next decades. However, we are still facing one major hurdle "space radiation" which is a significant and unavoidable risk for crews' health, especially for long‐term stays at future lunar or martian stations. In particular, sporadic solar energetic particles (SEPs) generated via extreme solar eruptions may enhance the lunar or martian surface radiation levels to potentially hazardous values. Recent lunar and martian surface and orbital radiation detectors have advanced our understanding of the radiation environment of both planetary bodies. On 28 October 2021 a SEP event occurred and had energies high enough to trigger ground‐level‐enhancement (GLE) events on the surface of Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Combining both measurements and modeling approaches, we study this first GLE event seen on three planetary surfaces and demonstrate its potential SEP radiation risk to humans on the Moon and Mars together with the results of previous GLE events. Key Points: This is the first ground level enhancement event simultaneously measured on Earth, Moon, and MarsWe analyze the radiation measurements at 3 locations and compare with our model predictions based on detected solar energetic particle (SEP) fluxWe show that extreme SEP events can induce much higher (∼100 times) radiation doses on the Moon than on Mars [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]