Influence of meteorological and cosmic conditions on dose rate in the environment of the Polish Polar station Hornsund.

This study presents, for the first time, the results of long-term measurements of radiation dose rates from cosmic and terrestrial gamma rays conducted at the Polish Polar Station Hornsund (southwestern Spitsbergen, 77°00'N, 15°33'E). The analysis focuses on the influence of meteorological factors (snow depth, temperature), cosmic conditions, and solar activity on the radiation dose rate in the Arctic region over the period 2016-2024. The mean gamma dose rate during the investigated period was 0.0990 µSv/h (median: 0.1018 µSv/h), with daily average minimum and maximum values of 0.0676 µSv/h and 0.1324 µSv/h, respectively. In comparison to the global gamma average dose rate (0.0970 µSv/h), the observed levels do not pose an additional radiation exposure risk to individuals residing at the Polish Polar Station Hornsund. However, ongoing climate change, particularly the reduction in the duration and extent of snow cover, has led to an increase in the average gamma dose rate, which may have implications for populations inhabiting polar regions.