On the relation between the latitude dependence and the magnitude of cosmic-ray storms

Abstract

A statistical study of the relation between the latitude dependence and the magnitude of cosmic storms is presented. World-wide cosmic-ray neutron data obtained at mountain altitudes during the I.G.Y. are used, and the intensity of cosmic rays at the time of cosmic-ray storms were corrected for the effect of the storm-time intensity increase. The magnitude of the latitude dependence of cosmic-ray storms, associated with geomagnetic storms less than about 150 gamma , is greater in the cases of the cosmicray storms accompanied by the larger geomagnetic storms than the smaller ones within the 150 gamma range of geomagnetic storms. For cosmic-ray storms associated with geomagnetic storms larger than about 150 gamma , the magnitude of the latitude dependence of cosmic- ray storms is nearly constant regardless of the magnitude of associated geomagnetic storms. Results are interpreted by the effect of an attenuation of the energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays due to an incoming magnetized cloud during cosmicray storms. (auth)