The behaviour of galactic cosmic ray intensity during solar activity cycle 24
Abstract
We have studied long-term variations of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) intensity in relation to the sunspot number (SSN) during the most recent solar cycles. This study analyses the time-lag between the GCR intensity and SSN, and hysteresis plots of the GCR count rate against SSN for solar activity cycles 20-23 to validate a methodology against previous results in the literature, before applying the method to provide a timely update on the behaviour of cycle 24. Cross-plots of SSN vs GCR show a clear difference between the odd-numbered and even-numbered cycles. Linear and elliptical models have been fit to the data with the linear fit and elliptical model proving the more suitable model for even-numbered and odd-numbered solar activity cycles respectively, in agreement with previous literature. Through the application of these methods for the 24th solar activity cycle, it has been shown that cycle 24 experienced a lag of 2-4 months and follows the trend of the preceding activity cycles albeit with a slightly longer lag than previous even-numbered cycles. It has been shown through the hysteresis analysis that the linear fit is a better representative model for cycle 24, as the ellipse model doesn't show a significant improvement, which is also in agreement with previous even-numbered cycles.
- Publication:
-
arXiv e-prints
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.1812.02125
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1812.02125
- Bibcode:
- 2018arXiv181202125R
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 19 pages, 10 figures, 6 tables