Severe solar storms can increase radiation exposure at cruising altitudes and disrupt onboard systems, researchers have said.
Space weather is a consequence of the behaviour of the Sun, the nature of Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, and our location in the Solar System. It drives changes in the electromagnetic and radiation environment in near-Earth space, in the atmosphere and at the surface.
As such, it can represent a real threat to human technology, including satellites and power grids. The most severe solar radiation storms can travel from the Sun to Earth in as little as 10 minutes.
A study led by the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) found that extreme space weather events can significantly increase radiation exposure at typical flight altitudes of 8km to 14km for aircraft passengers, crew and onboard systems.
While the Earth’s atmosphere does provide some protection from solar radiation, as flights reach higher altitudes, the exposure levels increase - especially during solar storms...