Phillips, and 13 student co-authors, reported in 2016 that they have developed a “Space Weather Buoy” for measuring upper atmospheric radiation from cosmic rays and solar storms. The Buoy, which is carried to the stratosphere by helium balloons, is relatively inexpensive and uses off-the-shelf technology accessible to small colleges and high schools. Using this device, we have measured two Forbush Decreases and a small surge in atmospheric radiation during the St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm of March 2015.
The authors have succeeded in measuring changes to the radiation environment of the stratosphere during three solar and geomagnetic storms. These data are of interest to atmospheric scientists, space weather forecasters, and entrepreneurs of space tourism who hope to build vessels to carry human passengers to the same altitudes as our balloons. There is, however, room for improvement in our radiation payload. For one thing, it only samples a fraction of the total radiation environment. For example, the payload is completely insensitive to neutrons. Neutrons are a very important form of cosmic radiation, providing at least half of the biologically effective radiation dose at altitudes of interest to aviation and space tourism. To monitor this type of radiation, the authors are currently experimenting with bubble chambers and active neutron dosimeters that can fly successfully on board a small balloon payload.
The authors would also welcome collaboration with more senior groups who occasionally fly sophisticated radiation sensors on board research aircraft and heavy-lift balloons. Including the authors' payload as a “hitchhiker” on such flights would allow a valuable cross calibration of our low-energy sensors with devices of greater sensitivity and spectral range.
Finally, the authors wish to form a “Space Weather Balloon” network, geographically distributed across North America and ultimately across the globe. Simultaneous launches of payloads like the one they have developed could reveal the 3-D response of the atmosphere to solar storms over wide areas, not just in a single flight path over California. Indeed, we have already started multi-point balloon launches with a pair of simultaneous California-New Hampshire flights in 2015. The authors have shown that it is possible to measure dynamics in upper atmospheric radiation using a relatively inexpensive payload for small helium balloons. The price point is within easy reach of many high schools and small colleges, and the technological know-how is not prohibitive. Most of the devices contained inside the lunch box payload are off the shelf and do not require advanced degrees in electrical engineering or radiation physics to operate.
Despite the relative simplicity of the payload—or perhaps because of it—Space Weather Buoys are able to make meaningful astrophysical measurements. In less than 1 year, the authors have detected changes in the stratosphere in response to three solar storms. In two cases (September and December 2014), Forbush Decreases in the stratosphere were well correlated with similar Forbush Decreases observed by neutron monitors on the ground. During the St. Patrick’s Day Storm of 2015, however, ground measurements of neutrons and balloon measurements of ionizing radiation were almost perfectly anti-correlated. This shows that we have a lot to learn, and using our techniques, young scientists are fully capable of participating in this exciting research.
See the Cosmic Ray Update: https://spaceweatherarchive.com/2019/12/13/the-ironic-behavior-of-cosmic-rays/
For updates from the group, see: https://spaceweather.com/
Other papers on Space Weather: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15427390/2016/14/10
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