Geomagnetic activity and north-south asymmetry of cosmic rays circa 1 GV. Final report, 1 March 1977-30 September 1984

Technical Report · Fri Sep 26 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6846100

Ely, J T; Huang, T C

Various features of solar-sector synchronous modulations of the particulate cosmic radiation reaching the earth's atmosphere have been studied using satellite and surface data. The flux in the broad maximum of the galactic cosmic-ray differential spectrum (near 1 GV rigidity) exhibits an intermittent north-south asymmetry in mid and high geomagnetic latitudes. This modulation exhibited a strong association with the geomagnetic disturbance index and interplanetary magnetic field direction during the 1964 and 1965 years of sunspot minimum. Such correlations are consistent with the predictions of a theory that attributes the north south asymmetry to reconnection of the interplanetary and geomagnetic fields. This finding is also consistent with suggestions that the solar-activity influence on atmospheric processes may be mediated by the resulting modulations of upper tropospheric ionization.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., Seattle (USA). Space Sciences Div.
• OSTI ID: 6846100
• Report Number(s): AD-A-174508/2/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
640104 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
COSMIC RADIATION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MODULATION
NORTH-SOUTH ASYMMETRY
RADIATIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
THRESHOLD RIGIDITY