Analysis of atmospheric pressure and temperature effects on cosmic ray measurements

Autor(es)

De Mendonca, R. R. S. ; Raulin, J. -P. ; Echer, E. ; Makhmutov, V. S. ; Fernandez, G.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS; v. 118, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2013-04-01.

Resumo

In this paper, we analyze atmospheric pressure and temperature effects on the records of the cosmic ray detector CARPET. This detector has monitored secondary cosmic ray intensity since 2006 at Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito (San Juan, Argentina, 31 degrees S, 69 degrees W, 2550m over sea level) where the geomagnetic rigidity cutoff, Rc, is similar to 9.8GV. From the correlation between atmospheric pressure deviations and relative cosmic ray variations, we obtain a barometric coefficient of -0.44 +/- 0.01 %/hPa. Once the data are corrected for atmospheric pressure, they are used to analyze temperature effects using four methods. Three methods are based on the surface temperature and the temperature at the altitude of maximum production of secondary cosmic rays. The fourth method, the integral method, takes into account the temperature height profile between 14 and 111km above Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito. The results obtained from these four methods are compared on different time scales from seasonal time variations to scales related to the solar activity cycle. Our conclusion is that the integral method leads to better results to remove the temperature effect of the cosmic ray intensity observed at ground level. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/11935-5 - Influência das atividades solar, geomagnética e atmosférica na modulação do fluxo de raios cósmicos.
• Beneficiário: Rafael Rodrigues Souza de Mendonça
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado