Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)

Abstract Exposure to ionizing radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar energetic particles (SEP) at aircraft flight altitudes can have an adverse effect on human health. Although airline crews are classified as radiation workers by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (...

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Main Authors: Daniel B. Phoenix, Chris J. Mertens, Guillaume P. Gronoff, Kent Tobiska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-04-01
Series:Space Weather
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW003869
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author Daniel B. Phoenix
Chris J. Mertens
Guillaume P. Gronoff
Kent Tobiska
author_facet Daniel B. Phoenix
Chris J. Mertens
Guillaume P. Gronoff
Kent Tobiska
author_sort Daniel B. Phoenix
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Exposure to ionizing radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar energetic particles (SEP) at aircraft flight altitudes can have an adverse effect on human health. Although airline crews are classified as radiation workers by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), in most countries, their level of exposure is unquantified and undocumented throughout the duration of their career. As such, there is a need to assess pilot ionizing radiation exposure. The Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing RAdiation System (NAIRAS), a real‐time, global, physics‐based model is used to assess such exposure. The Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) measurement data set consists of high latitude, high altitude, and long‐duration aircraft flights between 2013 and 2023. Here, we characterize radiation exposure at aviation flight altitudes using the NAIRAS model and compare with 45 flight trajectories from the recent ARMAS flight measurement inventory.
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issn 1542-7390
language English
publishDate 2024-04-01
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series Space Weather
spelling doaj-art-40ecf4776a6a4f4983799d80fb50319d2025-01-14T16:27:27ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902024-04-01224n/an/a10.1029/2024SW003869Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)Daniel B. Phoenix0Chris J. Mertens1Guillaume P. Gronoff2Kent Tobiska3Analytical Mechanics Associates Hampton VA USANASA Langley Research Center Hampton VA USAScience Systems and Applications, Inc. Hampton VA USASpace Environment Technologies Pacific Palisades CA USAAbstract Exposure to ionizing radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar energetic particles (SEP) at aircraft flight altitudes can have an adverse effect on human health. Although airline crews are classified as radiation workers by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), in most countries, their level of exposure is unquantified and undocumented throughout the duration of their career. As such, there is a need to assess pilot ionizing radiation exposure. The Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing RAdiation System (NAIRAS), a real‐time, global, physics‐based model is used to assess such exposure. The Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) measurement data set consists of high latitude, high altitude, and long‐duration aircraft flights between 2013 and 2023. Here, we characterize radiation exposure at aviation flight altitudes using the NAIRAS model and compare with 45 flight trajectories from the recent ARMAS flight measurement inventory.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW003869
spellingShingle Daniel B. Phoenix
Chris J. Mertens
Guillaume P. Gronoff
Kent Tobiska
Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
Space Weather
title Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
title_full Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
title_fullStr Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
title_short Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
title_sort characterization of radiation exposure at aviation flight altitudes using the nowcast of aerospace ionizing radiation system nairas
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024SW003869
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