Energetic solar particle events

Abstract

Studies of the arrival directions of energetic solar particles during ground level enhancements (CLE's) observed by neutron monitors have shown that, in general, in the first hour of the event most of the particles arrive with a distribution of pitch angles peaked about the garden hose field direction in the vicinity of Earth. During the first hour some of the particles arrive from the antisolar direction, while in later stages of the event the intensity becomes more nearly isotropic as a result of scattering of particles in interplanetary space. An attempt is made to determine the arrival directions of the particles during the early stages of the GLE of 16 February 1984 using the data currently available from high latitude neutron monitors near sea level where the cut off is essentially atmospheric (approx. LGV).