Solar flare increase of cosmic ray intensity on November 22, 1977.

The solar flare event of November 22, 1977, in which relativistic solar protons were observed to reach the earth, is examined. Data from the world network of cosmic ray neutron monitors indicate that the protons had energies between 3.5 and 6.3 GeV and followed the H alpha and X ray flares by about 25 minutes. It is proposed that the delay is due to storage of the protons in coronal magnetic bottles for about 20 min after the beginning of the event. The observed longitudinal distribution of arrival times is inconsistent with results expected if the particles were to follow the garden hose field line, indicating an as yet unknown indirect path.