51. A 360° Survey of Solar Energetic Particle Events and One Extreme Event
- Author
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G. M. Mason, Tycho von Rosenvinge, Richard Leske, Christina Cohen, and R. A. Mewaldt
- Subjects
Meteorology ,Particle ,Environmental science ,Event (particle physics) - Abstract
We report on a 3-point longitudinal survey of Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events during 2010-2014 using data from the STEREO and near-Earth spacecraft. During the period from August 2010 through September 2014 a total of 77 SEP events were identified with >10 MeV proton intensities that exceeded the NOAA criterion of >10 protons/(cm^2 sr-s), including 37 events at STEREO-A and 36 each at GOES and STEREO-A. Thirty-seven percent of the events reached this threshold intensity at more than one location. Unexpected solar activity in December 2006 provided an opportunity to cross-calibrate the STEREO and GOES sensors, demonstrating that the >10 MeV response for GOES was ~5%-8% greater than for the STEREOs, while the STEREO A&B responses agreed to within 2%. The July 23, 2012 event observed by STEREO-A was found to be the most intense SEP event in more than 20 years. We present observations of the longitude distribution of SEP events and fluences and compare properties of the July 23, 2012 event with those of the largest events of earlier solar cycles. more...
- Published
- 2016
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