How does radiation exposure compare between a person flying at cruising altitude versus someone on the ground at sea level?
Answer
The flyer receives a substantially higher dose rate, sometimes comparable to LEO exposure.
The protection offered by the atmosphere is not uniform; passengers at cruising altitude receive a dose rate significantly higher than those on the ground, sometimes approaching levels seen in Low Earth Orbit.

Related Questions
On what factors is the lethality of cosmic radiation entirely dependent?What are Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) primarily comprised of?How do Solar Particle Events (SPEs) generally compare to GCRs regarding energy and arrival pattern?What is the primary function of the Earth's magnetic field regarding cosmic radiation?What characteristic makes heavier ions in GCRs biologically more damaging than equivalent energy from low-energy photons?What critical protection is lost when missions venture beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?What is the primary long-term health concern associated with cumulative DNA damage from cosmic radiation exposure?Besides cancer and cataracts, what specific physiological system is noted to be vulnerable to damage from space radiation, potentially affecting mood and cognition?How does radiation exposure compare between a person flying at cruising altitude versus someone on the ground at sea level?Why are materials rich in hydrogen, such as polyethylene, often considered superior shielding to heavy metals like aluminum for blocking GCRs?What is the persistent, harder-to-solve engineering challenge in managing radiation exposure during long-duration space missions?