Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?

Exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation has been recognized as an occupational health risk for several decades. Based on the recommendations by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), many countries and their aviation authorities, respectively have either stipulated legal rad...

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Main Authors: Matthias M. Meier, Kyle Copeland, Klara E. J. Klöble, Daniel Matthiä, Mona C. Plettenberg, Kai Schennetten, Michael Wirtz, Christine E. Hellweg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1358
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author Matthias M. Meier
Kyle Copeland
Klara E. J. Klöble
Daniel Matthiä
Mona C. Plettenberg
Kai Schennetten
Michael Wirtz
Christine E. Hellweg
author_facet Matthias M. Meier
Kyle Copeland
Klara E. J. Klöble
Daniel Matthiä
Mona C. Plettenberg
Kai Schennetten
Michael Wirtz
Christine E. Hellweg
author_sort Matthias M. Meier
collection DOAJ
description Exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation has been recognized as an occupational health risk for several decades. Based on the recommendations by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), many countries and their aviation authorities, respectively have either stipulated legal radiation protection regulations, e.g., in the European Union or issued corresponding advisory circulars, e.g., in the United States of America. Additional sources of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, e.g., due to weather phenomena have been identified and discussed in the scientific literature in recent years. This article gives an overview of the different generally recognized sources due to weather as well as space weather phenomena that contribute to radiation exposure in the atmosphere and the associated radiation effects that might pose a risk to aviation safety at large, including effects on human health and avionics. Furthermore, potential mitigation measures for several radiation sources and the prerequisites for their use are discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-68989645d5c1443d908c3165f6bd70272023-11-21T00:46:00ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-12-011112135810.3390/atmos11121358Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?Matthias M. Meier0Kyle Copeland1Klara E. J. Klöble2Daniel Matthiä3Mona C. Plettenberg4Kai Schennetten5Michael Wirtz6Christine E. Hellweg7German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, 51147 Cologne, GermanyNumerical Sciences Research Team, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), CAMI, AAM-631, Oklahoma City, OK 73169, USALufthansa German Airlines, Lufthansa Basis, 60546 Frankfurt/Main, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, 51147 Cologne, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, 51147 Cologne, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, 51147 Cologne, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, 51147 Cologne, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, 51147 Cologne, GermanyExposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation has been recognized as an occupational health risk for several decades. Based on the recommendations by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), many countries and their aviation authorities, respectively have either stipulated legal radiation protection regulations, e.g., in the European Union or issued corresponding advisory circulars, e.g., in the United States of America. Additional sources of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, e.g., due to weather phenomena have been identified and discussed in the scientific literature in recent years. This article gives an overview of the different generally recognized sources due to weather as well as space weather phenomena that contribute to radiation exposure in the atmosphere and the associated radiation effects that might pose a risk to aviation safety at large, including effects on human health and avionics. Furthermore, potential mitigation measures for several radiation sources and the prerequisites for their use are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1358cosmic radiationspace weatheratmospheric radiationaircrewradiation exposureradiation protection
spellingShingle Matthias M. Meier
Kyle Copeland
Klara E. J. Klöble
Daniel Matthiä
Mona C. Plettenberg
Kai Schennetten
Michael Wirtz
Christine E. Hellweg
Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?
Atmosphere
cosmic radiation
space weather
atmospheric radiation
aircrew
radiation exposure
radiation protection
title Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?
title_full Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?
title_fullStr Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?
title_full_unstemmed Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?
title_short Radiation in the Atmosphere—A Hazard to Aviation Safety?
title_sort radiation in the atmosphere a hazard to aviation safety
topic cosmic radiation
space weather
atmospheric radiation
aircrew
radiation exposure
radiation protection
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1358
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AT monacplettenberg radiationintheatmosphereahazardtoaviationsafety
AT kaischennetten radiationintheatmosphereahazardtoaviationsafety
AT michaelwirtz radiationintheatmosphereahazardtoaviationsafety
AT christineehellweg radiationintheatmosphereahazardtoaviationsafety