A recent study conducted by researchers Rositsa Miteva, Susan W. Samwel, and Momchil Dechev from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences sheds light on the behavior of solar energetic protons (SEPs) during solar cycle 23. Their findings, published in the journal Solar Physics, offer insights that could have implications for the energy sector, particularly in space weather forecasting and satellite operations.
The research focuses on comparing low and high energy SEPs observed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory’s (SOHO) Energetic and Relativistic Nuclei and Electron (ERNE) detector. The team analyzed peak proton intensities, both observed and corrected, to understand their relationship with solar flares (SFs) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). They calculated linear correlations between proton intensity and the soft X-ray class of SFs, as well as the projected speed of CMEs.
The study found that the correlations between proton intensity and these solar phenomena vary with energy levels. For low-energy protons, the correlation with solar flare class was stronger, indicating that these protons are more influenced by the intensity of the solar flare. Conversely, high-energy protons showed a stronger correlation with the speed of CMEs, suggesting that these protons are more affected by the dynamics of CMEs.
These findings build upon previous research and provide a more nuanced understanding of how different energy SEPs are influenced by solar events. For the energy sector, particularly for companies operating satellites and other space-based assets, this research can help improve space weather forecasting. Accurate forecasting is crucial for protecting satellites from radiation damage caused by SEPs, which can disrupt satellite operations and lead to significant financial losses.
Moreover, understanding the behavior of SEPs can aid in the development of more resilient satellite designs and better risk management strategies. This research is a step towards enhancing our predictive capabilities and mitigating the impacts of space weather on critical energy infrastructure.
In summary, the study by Miteva, Samwel, and Dechev offers valuable insights into the behavior of SEPs, which can be leveraged to improve space weather forecasting and protect energy assets in space. The research was published in the journal Solar Physics, providing a solid foundation for future studies in this critical area.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.