Estimation of Cosmic-Ray-Induced Atmospheric Ionization and Radiation at Commercial Aviation Flight Altitudes

The main source of the ionization of the Earth's atmosphere is the cosmic radiation that depends on solar activity as well as geomagnetic activity. Galactic cosmic rays constitute a permanent radiation background and contribute significantly to the radiation exposure inside the atmosphere. In this work, the cosmic-ray-induced ionization of the Earth's atmosphere, due to both solar and galactic cosmic radiation during the recent solar cycles 23 (1996-2008) and 24 (2008-2019), was studied globally. Estimations of the ionization were based on the CRAC:CRII model by the University of Oulu. The use of this model allowed for extensive calculations from the Earth's surface (atmospheric depth 1033 g/cm(2)) to the upper limit of the atmosphere (atmospheric depth 0 g/cm(2)). Monte Carlo simulations were performed for the estimation quantities of radiobiological interest with the validated software DYASTIMA/DYASTIMA-R. This study was focused on specific altitudes of interest, such as the common flight levels used by commercial aviation.

Automated summary

The ionization of the Earth's atmosphere induced by cosmic radiation during recent solar cycles was globally studied using the CRAC:CRII model. The study found that galactic cosmic rays constitute the main source of ionization in the Earth's atmosphere and significantly contribute to radiation exposure inside the atmosphere. Specific altitudes of interest, such as those commonly used by commercial aviation, were also focused on.