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Title: Peak-flux-density spectra of large radio bursts and proton emission from flares. Environmental research papers, July 1981-July 1985

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5147350

From this study of the peak-flux-density spectra of nearly 200 large (sp > or = 2 GHz) > or = 800 solar flux units) microwave bursts and their associated proton and sweep-frequency emissions, the authors found the following: (1) There appear to be two basic peak-flux-density spectral types: (a) U-shaped, with two maxima > or = 800 sfu in the range of 200 MHz to > or = 19 GHz (59% of all events) and (b) cutoff, with a spectral maximum > or = 800 sfu at f > or = 2 GHz and Sp(200 MHz) < 100 sfu (18%). (2) If the current NOAA proton-prediction threshold of J (> 10 MeV) > or = 10 protons/sq cm/sec/sr had been in effect during the period covered by the data base (1965-1979), the U-burst yes or no proton event forecast tool would have had a false alarm rate of approx. 50% and would have failed to provide a warning for approx. 50% of the significant prompt proton flares attributable to disk flares during this period. (3) The associations of flare-bursts of different peak flux density spectral type with Type II and/or Type IV bursts and with > 10-MeV proton events of any peak intensity are given. (4) In 74% of the microwave bursts with u-shaped spectra, the 200 MHz emission peak occurred during a Type III event. For 49% of the U-bursts, a Type II was in progress during, or began < or = 0.5 min after, the peak 200-MHz emission. (5) Several (8 of 46) of the proton events with J (> 10 MeV) > or = 10 protons/sq cm/sec/sr (1965-1979) originated in visible hemisphere flares with relatively weak (Sp < or = 300 sfu) and associated 200-MHz emission.

Research Organization:
Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5147350
Report Number(s):
AD-A-169134/4/XAB; AFGL-TR-85-0180
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English