On the status of the sunspot and magnetic cycles in the galactic cosmic ray intensity

Abstract

The views of two research groups are presented on the progress achieved in understanding one specific class of the long-term variations of the galactic cosmic ray intensity, the variations due to the sunspot and magnetic cycles in the solar activity. The main observational features of both cycles and how they can be described and understood are discussed for the two-decade period (1980-2000) that we consider as normal for the development of both cycles for the second half of the 20-th century. The unusual features in the cosmic ray behavior observed during the long and deep minimum between solar cycles 23 and 24 (2008-2010) are also discussed.