Radiation environment in high-altitude Antarctic plateau: Recent measurements and model studies

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 890; p. 164304
• Main Authors: Mishev, A.L., Kodaira, S., Kitamura, H., Ploc, O., Ambrožová, I., Tolochek, R.V., Kartsev, I.S., Shurshakov, V.A., Artamonov, A.A., Inozemtsev, K.O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.09.2023
• Subjects: Aircraft; Altitude; Antarctic Regions; Antarctica; Atmosphere; Cosmic Radiation; Cosmic rays; Ground-level enhancement; High altitudes; Humans; Liulin dosimeter; Natural radiation background; Passive detectors; Personnel dosimetry; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Monitoring; Antarctic Regions; Liulin dosimeter; High altitudes; Ground-level enhancement; Personnel dosimetry; Passive detectors; Antarctica; Natural radiation background; Cosmic rays
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164304

Polar regions are the most exposed to secondary particles and radiation produced by primary cosmic rays in the atmosphere, because naturally they are with marginal geomagnetic shielding. In addition, the secondary particle flux contributing to the complex radiation field is enhanced at high-mountain altitudes compared to sea level because of the reduced atmospheric attenuation. At present, there are very few systematic experimental measurements of environmental dose at high southern latitudes, specifically at high-altitude region. Here, we report a campaign of measurements with different devices, that is passive and Liulin-type dosimeters, of the radiation background at high-mountain Antarctic station Vostok (3488 m above sea level, 78° 27′ S; 106° 50′ E). We compare the measurements with a Monte Carlo-based model for the propagation of the cosmic rays through the atmosphere and assessment of the radiation field in the atmosphere. We employed the model to estimate the radiation dose at Vostok station during the ground-level enhancement at 28 October 2021. As in previous studies by other teams, we show that the annual dose equivalent at high-altitude Antarctic facilities can significantly exceed the limit of 1 mSv established for the general population by the ICRP. [Display omitted] •Measurement of radiation background at high-altitude Antarctic station Vostok•Comparison with model for propagation of the cosmic rays through the atmosphere•Assessment of the contribution of cosmic rays to radiation during solar proton event•The dose at high-altitude Antarctic stations significantly exceeds the limit of 1 mSv.