Model-based Aviation Radiation Advisories During Solar Energetic Particle Events

In support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA/SWPC) issues advisories when the radiation environment at aviation flight levels is significantly enhanced during solar radiation storms. SWPCs ICAO radiation advisories are supported by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) CARI-7 model, which calculates dose rates associated with transient energetic solar protons and background galactic cosmic radiation. We present CARI-7 modeling results from January 2005s Ground Level Enhancement 69 (GLE69) radiation storm. For the onset and peak of the event, a severe (SEV) radiation advisory would have been in effect for altitudes above 33,000 ft, for polar and mid latitude regions of the northern and southern hemisphere. At lower altitudes, down to 28,000 ft, the moderate (MOD) radiation threshold would have been exceeded. Updates to the impacted flight levels would have been released throughout the event. In total, ICAO radiation advisories would have been in effect for around 7 hours.