Changes in sun activity will increase the risk of radiation exposure to airplanes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The Sun's exit from the maximum activity is likely to increase the risk of radiation exposure to aircraft and spacecraft, researchers at Reading University (UK) report.
Scientists note that the cause for concern is serious, because the design, operation and insurance of vulnerable technologies are based on data from the past period and are not yet considered with long-term changes in the "space climate".
The current "large solar maximum" lasts longer than any other for the last 9.3 thousand years, and is expected to soon be over. Changes in the near-Earth space will return our planet to those conditions that existed before the emergence of modern highly sensitive systems: spacecraft, electricity distribution networks and aircraft.
Specialists emphasize that at the cruising altitudes of commercial aviation (especially in high latitudes) high-energy ionizing radiation (solar and galactic) can cause particularly serious harm to electronics and irradiate the crew along with passengers.
The International Commission on Radiological Protection established the annual dose limit of 1 mSv. If an eight-hour commercial flight in the subpolar latitudes took place during a solar storm for Halloween 2003, its participants would receive 70% of this dose. The Carrington geomagnetic storm of 1859 (the most powerful of the known sciences) would exceed the limit by 20 times.
If the level of only one galactic radiation of the last solar minimum repeats (for a moment we pretend that there are no solar storms), a person will be allowed to make no more than five roundtrips (that is, ten air travels) within a year.
Based on past experience, researchers predict that there is an 8% chance of an "absolute" minimum of solar activity for 40 years, which will lead to extremely high radiation doses. A more probable forecast is expected to expect a moderate increase in galactic radiation and, at the same time, an increased risk of a large solar storm.
Scientists also recall that over the past 160 years, the geomagnetic field has been decreasing, which will only intensify irradiation.
[