Large solar energetic particle events of cycle 23: A global view

We report on a study of all the large solar energetic particle (SEP) events that occurred during the minimum to maximum interval of solar cycle 23. The main results are: 1. The occurrence rate of the SEP events, long‐wavelength type II bursts and the fast and wide frontside western hemispheric CMEs is quite similar, consistent with the scenario that CME‐driven shocks accelerate both protons and electrons; major flares have a much higher rate. 2. The SEP intensity is better correlated with the CME speed than with the X‐ray flare class. 3. CMEs associated with high‐intensity SEPs are about 4 times more likely to be preceded by wide CMEs from the same solar source region, suggesting the importance of the preconditioning of the eruption region. We use a specific event to demonstrate that preceding eruption from a nearby source can significantly affect the properties of SEPs and type II radio bursts.