Project Description

The solar eruption of 23 February 1956, known as GLE #5, remains the strongest ground-level enhancement ever recorded. It serves as the ultimate benchmark for understanding extreme space weather.

However, for decades, the scientific community relied on datasets containing significant inconsistencies.

In this major study, the research team resolved these discrepancies by recovering and analyzing original contemporary records from the University of Chicago Archives. The results provide a revised and far more accurate reconstruction of the event’s energy spectrum and angular characteristics.

For ALBATROS, this is critical. Having a precise understanding of historical “worst-case scenarios” allows us to stress-test our radiation models, ensuring that future aviation safety systems are built on the most accurate data available.

This research features key contributions from our partners at FMI (Finnish Meteorological Institute).

Read the full open-access article: https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2024/04/aa48699-23/aa48699-23.html