Ground-level enhancement

Significant elevation in radiation levels at the Earth’s surface due to cosmic rays emitted by solar flares. The radiation levels are readily detected by neutron monitors.

(Adapted from ICRP Publication 132, 2016)

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from ICRP Publication 132, 2016

When solar flares emit cosmic rays of sufficient energy and intensity to raise radiation levels on Earth’s surface to the degree that they are detected readily by neutron monitors, they are termed ‘ground-level enhancements or events’.