Energetic Particle Influence on the Earth’s Atmosphere

Irina A. Mironova*, Karen L. Aplin, Frank Arnold, Galina A. Bazilevskaya, R. Giles Harrison, Alexei A. Krivolutsky, Keri A. Nicoll, Eugene V. Rozanov, Esa Turunen, Ilya G. Usoskin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview article (Academic Journal)peer-review

228 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-96
Number of pages96
JournalSpace Science Reviews
Volume194
Issue number1-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2015

Keywords

  • Aerosols and Clouds
  • Atmospheric Chemistry
  • Atmospheric Processes
  • Climate
  • Energetic Electron Precipitation (EEP)
  • Energetic Particle Precipitation (EPP)
  • Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs)
  • Global Electric Circuit
  • Ions
  • Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs)
  • The Earth Atmosphere: Lower Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere

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