Spatial-Energy Characteristics of Cosmic Rays and Parameters of Magnetospheric Current Systems in March and June 2015

Abstract

The data from terrestrial observations of cosmic rays at the global network of stations by the method of spectrographic global survey were used to analyze two Forbush decreases during the geomagnetic storms in March and June 2015. The spectra of cosmic ray variations, pitch angle anisotropy of cosmic rays at different phases of Forbush decrease development, and the changes in the planetary system of geomagnetic cutoff rigidities are presented. It is shown that, during the approximation of the spectra of variations by the power function of particle rigidity in the interval of 10–50 GV, the spectrum index is softer at the maximum modulation phase than during the phases of cosmic ray intensity decline and recovery. In the axisymmetric model of the bounded magnetosphere of the Earth, which takes into account the currents at the magnetopause and the ring current, the distance to the subsolar point and the radius of the ring current, as well as the contribution of the ring current to the changes in geomagnetic cutoff rigidity and to the Dst index during the studied events, are determined.