Solar energetic particle characteristics and their dependence on longitude in solar cycle 24

Abstract

In previous solar cycles, most studies examining the longitude dependence of solar energetic particle (SEP) event characteristics (such as composition and spectral hardness) have involved statistical analysis of single-point measurements. With the significant separation between the two STEREO and near-Earth spacecraft during solar cycle 24, these SEP characteristics can be examined simultaneously from multiple vantage points. Using SEP measurements from sensors on STEREO and ACE, we have examined the longitude dependence of the Fe/O abundance ratio at 10 MeV/nuc and the oxygen spectral index for energies above 10 MeV/nuc. Longitudinal patterns were sought that support or refute the scenarios put forth by Tylka et al. and Cane et al. to explain the Fe-enriched large SEP events of cycle 23. Unfortunately few Fe-enriched events have occurred in cycle 24 and their longitudinal behavior is not entirely consistent with either of the proposed scenarios.