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Re: (meteorobs) Massive solar flare
I hope I can reply to the list this way.
I have been keen with interest about this topic the last couple of days.
Some one out there who has knowledge in both the physics of this solar
activity AND knowledge of the radiation treatment of cancerous
tumors...please think about this topic. How might there be some
relationship? What is the impact n malignant tumors and a stream of solar
proton energy. I cannot do much more to formulate a question, but to the
tumor that is inside my brain as I type. If this is some sort of crazy
incomprehensible question, sounding to come from the mind of a crazy
man...well, you get your head drilled 2-3 times in a week pumped full of
drugs to stop brain swelling....then we can see how much clarity your mind
has.. I guess I have gotten "off topic" on the list, haven't I/??? Please
don't ban me boys. I need this right how. Chuck Urrey Carolinas Medical
Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Linnolt" <mlinnolt@alum.mitdot edu>
To: <meteorobs@atmob.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Massive solar flare
Shielding from the high-energy protons, electrons and ions of a CME consists
of 2 parts: The Earth's magnetic field, which directs the particles into the
polar regions, and the atmosphere. The latter works simply by virtue of the
density of air and the height of the atmosphere. This guarantees a high
probability most of the particles getting past the magnetosphere will be
stopped by the random chance collision with an air molecule before it
reaches the Earth's surface. Since the air is much denser near the surface
at low altitudes, persons at high altitudes or on planes receive a much
higher dose. Anyway, there is no way this mechanism can "fail". That would
mean a spontaneous "hole" would have to open up through the whole atmosphere
above, which is absolutely "impossible" from statistical physics considering
the number of atoms involved. Another consideration is the amount of
shielding provided by a typical wood house. If you do a simple calculation
of the number of atoms in a column of atmosphere 50km high compared to the
number in a few inches of wood or sheetrock, you will see the atmospheric
shielding is several orders of magnitude better, and the house really won't
make much difference anyway... So, one need not be an "expert" to know what
not to be worried about.
Mike Linnolt
--- Jill and Nevyn <mirage@gilanet.com> wrote:
> Well the experts have spoken...no
> problem...hmmmm...you know I have two
> grandchildren and my email to my son was: Keep them
> indoors. Sometimes our
> experts are not always correct...and in this I think
> I would rather make an
> error on the side of over caution. From what I have
> gathered so far our
> atmosphere shields us from most of this radiation.
> But what if something
> fails? Anyway thanks for any info.
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