Periodicity of variations in galactic cosmic ray fluxes and solar activity parameters near 20th cycle minimum

An autocorrelation analysis of Wolf numbers clearly reveals a two year periodicity in solar activity during the period 1970-1975. Then, up to 1978, no such periodicity was detected and there was no correlation with earlier data (probably attributable to the low level of solar activity and the onset of a new solar activity cycle). Against this background, a correlation analysis was made of the mean monthly fluxes of cosmic rays measured aboard spacecraft, in the stratosphere (at Murmansk) and at the Earth's surface (Deep River), as well as Wolf numbers. The objective was to find a periodicity on the basis of the correlation dependences of two year intervals of data on cosmic rays and Wolf numbers. An approximately two year periodicity in the modulation of cosmic rays was discovered. The manifestation of this periodicity is different for different measurement periods and different energies of galactic cosmic rays. A table gives data on the maxima of the correlation coefficients, the lag relative to Wolf numbers and the extent of the modulation region on the assumption of a plasma velocity of 300 km/sec. The tabulated data characterize the dependence of the extent of the modulation region on the energy of GCR particles.