Snow effect on the neutron monitor network for 2018-2019

In this article, the influence of the surrounding snow cover on the neutron monitors count rate of the world network of neutron monitors was estimated using the method of reference stations. The applied technique also makes it possible to estimate the snow cover thickness at the observation point, which was done for more than two dozen stations. A comparison of the data correction results for snow is carried out for the case of automatic correction, based on the developed algorithm, and for manual one, with an error estimate.

Data management at the Oulu cosmic ray station

With the recent electronics upgrade of Antarctic neutron monitors (NMs) DOMC and DOMB in 2019, the Oulu cosmic ray station (Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, Finland) receives a significantly larger amount of data than before. This has led to a need for an important upgrade of the configuration of servers working at the station. The new configuration has three types of servers: a web-server, a datamaster server and data acquisition machines. The web-server provides a user interface for services of the station: the main website, the GLE database and other services. The datamaster is the main server, which stores all data in raw files and a database. Data acquisition machines are computers that directly receive data from the instruments and send the files farther to the datamaster server. This work describes technical details of the cosmic ray station setup providing reliable and secure data acquisition, handling and publication.

Upgrade of electronics of neutron monitors DOMC and DOMB

DOMC and DOMB neutron monitors (NM) operate at the Concordia research station (Dome C on the Antarctic plateau, 75 o 06’S, 123 o 23’E, 3233 m a.s.l.) since 2015. Their high elevation and proximity to the geomagnetic pole provide low atmospheric and geomagnetic cutoffs and, therefore, the exceptionally high sensitivity to low-ener- gy cosmic rays. The instruments are the so-called mini neutron monitors with BF 3 -filled counter tubes. DOMC has the standard design with a lead neutron multiplier and DOMB is a so-called “bare” (lead-free) unit. We report on a recent upgrade of the electronics heads of these instruments. The new heads have a modular architecture, built upon a single-board computer Raspberry Pi. The upgrade increases the capabilities of the instruments in two aspects: (1) measurements, particularly, of cosmic ray multiplicity; (2) remote control and monitoring. The new electronic heads register each pulse from a detector, giving a timestamp with microsecond precision, which is crucial for multiplicity measurements. Many important parameters (e.g., high voltage, pulse detection thres- holds) can be controlled and adjusted remotely with the new design. High computing power allows performing data processing on the fly. The upgrade increases the capability of DOMC and DOMB in cosmic ray measurements and improves control of the operation of the neutron monitors.

NMDB database and global survey method

The method of a global survey developed in the 1970s allows using a world-wide network of neutron monitor stations as a single multidirectional device. Wherein, receiving characteristics of each device, which reflects their geometries and geographical positions, are taken into account. Such an approach makes it possible to define the first two angular moments of the distribution function of cosmic rays in the interplanetary space at each hour of observation. With the creation in 2008/2009 and subsequent development of an international database of neutron monitors NMDB, for the first time it appeared an opportunity to use the global survey method in real-time mode. Such a situation creates a unique possibility to use the results not only for scienti- fic researches but also for space weather forecasting. To use the data of the world-wide network of neutron monitors it is necessary to carry preliminary preparations. Thereby, in the current work, the main attention is attracted to a solution to some practical questions that arise when using the NMDB in real-time.

Wavelet analysis of long-term variations in neutron monitor, sunspot number and interplanetary magnetic field data

For the first time, based on the experimental data of AMS-02, a three-parameter spectrum of variations of ga - lactic cosmic rays was obtained in the range of rigidity 1- 20 GV, to which neutron monitors are most sensitive. It was found that during the period of negative polarity of the solar magnetic field, a power-law spectrum of va - riations is observed with a strong exponential decay in the region of high rigidity. When the polarity changes to positive at the beginning of the new 24th solar cycle, the spectrum of cosmic ray variations becomes purely po- wer-law. The transition to the experimentally obtained spectrum of variations will make it possible to remove a number of uncertainties and increase the accuracy of the analysis of data from the ground network of detectors. This will make it possible to retrospectively obtain fluxes of galactic protons with an average monthly resolution for the period of the space era based on ground-based monitoring.

Unusual decrease of the cosmic ray intensity in May 2019 on the background of the minima solar activity

In May 2019 there was a long and sloping decreasing of cosmic ray’s intensity (up to ~4%), which was observed on neutron monitors. Despite this was a small decreasing compared to quasi-eleven-period variation, it stands out well in 24th cycle of solar activity. According to LASCO/SOHO and STEREO-A data from spectrometer in different UHF bands and from coronograph, there was a series of CMEs which affected on modulation of cosmic rays by creating a series of Forbush decrea - sing, which didn’t restore. This series was connected to two active regions on sun and began on April 30 from “reversed halo” CME. This CME didn’t reach the earth, but led to significant additional modulation of cosmic rays, mostly on east side. Later there was a series of smaller CMEs on May 1-6, which also didn’t reach the earth, but were gradually approaching to Earth. Recent CMEs on 8-9 and 12-13 created a normal Forbush decreasing. In May 2019, cosmic rays shown again, that they can collect information about distant objects of geliosphere and transmit it to Earth. The ground-level detectors sometimes can observe an interaction of interplanetary distur- bances, which didn‘t reach the earth. East CMEs are especially effective, because they closing magnetic field lines beyond the orbit of earth and can interfere the restoring of cosmic ray’s intensity.

Signs of geoeffective space weather events in cosmic rays during the first half of the solar cycle 24

Solar originating events are continually evident in galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux registered at the ground by neutron monitors. We analyze time intervals of sporadic Forbush decreases (Fd) observed by neutron monitors (NM) during the first half of solar cycle 24. We consider NMs data, as well as, solar, heliospheric and geoma - gnetic activity parameters, around those periods, using different mathematical tools. Subsequently, an impact of space weather phenomena on energy infrastructure is well known, in the further step we consider logs from one of the Polish transmission lines operators during the time intervals of Fds. Based on the data from the Ins- titute of Meteorology and Water Management-Polish National Research Institute we exclude from the analysis the weather-related failures. We found that the increase in the superposed averaged number of failures appears around Forbush decreases.