The First Ground Level Enhancement of Solar Cycle 25 on 28 October 2021

TL;DR

This paper reports the first ground level enhancement of solar cycle 25 on 28 October 2021, analyzing its solar origin, particle characteristics, and comparing it with previous events to understand solar energetic particle events.

Contribution

It provides a detailed reconstruction of the ground level enhancement event, linking it to specific solar eruptions and analyzing its particle and radio burst characteristics.

Findings

GLE73 reached a maximum particle rigidity of ~2.4 GV

Associated with multiple radio bursts and an EUV wave

Peak flux at E>10 MeV was ~30 pfu, stable over days

Abstract

Aims. The first relativistic solar proton event of solar cycle 25 (SC25) was detected on 28 October 2021 by neutron monitors (NMs) on the ground and particle detectors onboard spacecraft in the near-Earth space. This is the first ground level enhancement (GLE) of the current cycle. A detailed reconstruction of the NM response together with the identification of the solar eruption that generated these particles is investigated based on in-situ and remote-sensing measurements. Methods. In-situ proton observations from a few MeV to $\sim$500 MeV were combined with the detection of a solar flare in soft X-rays (SXRs), a coronal mass ejection (CME), radio bursts and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations to identify the solar origin of the GLE. Timing analysis was performed and a relation to the solar sources was outlined. Results. GLE73 reached a maximum particle rigidity of $\sim$2.4 GV and is associated with type III, type II, type IV radio bursts and an EUV wave. A diversity of time profiles recorded by NMs was observed. This points to an anisotropic nature of the event. The peak flux at E$>$10 MeV was only $\sim$30 pfu and remained at this level for several days. The release time of $\geq$1 GV particles was found to be $\sim$15:40 UT. GLE73 had a moderately hard rigidity spectrum at very high energies ($\gamma$ $\sim$5.5). Comparison of GLE73 to previous GLEs with similar solar drivers is performed