Real-time cosmic ray monitoring system for space weather

Abstract

We have developed a real-time system to monitor high-energy cosmic rays for use in space weather forecasting and specification. Neutron monitors and muon detectors are used for our system, making it possible to observe cosmic rays with dual energy range observations. In large solar energetic particle (SEP) events, the ground level enhancement (GLE) can provide the earliest alert for the onset of the SEP event. The loss cone precursor anisotropy predicts the arrival of interplanetary shocks and the associated interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), while the occurrence of bidirectional cosmic ray streaming indicates that Earth is within a large ICME. This article describes a set of real-time Web displays that clearly show the appearance of the GLE, loss cone precursor, and other space weather phenomena related to cosmic rays. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.