Editing Geomagnetic storm (section)

=== Radiation hazards to humans ===

Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere allow adequate protection at ground level, but [[astronaut]]s are subject to potentially lethal [[radiation poisoning]]. The penetration of high-energy particles into living cells can cause [[chromosome]] damage, [[cancer]] and other health problems. Large doses can be immediately fatal. Solar [[proton]]s with energies greater than 30&nbsp;[[MeV]] are particularly hazardous.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tjacAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9|title=Radiation and the International Space Station: Recommendations to Reduce Risk|last1=Council|first1=National Research|last2=Sciences|first2=Division on Engineering and Physical|last3=Board|first3=Space Studies|last4=Applications|first4=Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and|last5=Research|first5=Committee on Solar and Space Physics and Committee on Solar-Terrestrial|date=2000|publisher=National Academies Press|isbn=978-0-309-06885-7|page=9}}</ref>

[[Solar proton event]]s can also produce elevated radiation aboard [[Jet airliner|aircraft]] flying at high altitudes. Although these risks are small, [[flight crew]]s may be exposed repeatedly, and monitoring of solar proton events by satellite instrumentation allows exposure to be monitored and evaluated, and eventually flight paths and altitudes to be adjusted to lower the absorbed dose.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cordis.europa.eu/docs/projects/files/FIGM/FIGM-CT-2000-00068/75331981-6_en.pdf|title=Evaluation of the Cosmic Radiation Exposure of Aircraft Crew|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unscear.org/docs/reports/2008/09-86753_Report_2008_GA_Report_corr2.pdf |title=Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, UNSCEAR 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last =Phillips| first =Tony| title =The Effects of Space Weather on Aviation| website =Science News| publisher =NASA| date =25 October 2013| url =https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/25oct_aviationswx/| access-date =12 July 2017| archive-date =28 September 2019| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190928003535/https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/25oct_aviationswx/| url-status =dead}}</ref>

[[Ground level enhancement]]s, also known as ground level events or GLEs, occur when a [[solar particle event]] contains particles with sufficient energy to have effects at ground level, mainly detected as an increase in the number of [[neutrons]] measured at ground level. These events have been shown to have an impact on radiation dosage, but they do not significantly increase the risk of cancer.<ref name="BritishGovSpaceWeather">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/space-weather-and-radiation|title=British Government: Space Weather and radiation guidance, Public Health England|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>