Corotating high-speed solar-wind streams and recurrent cosmic ray modulation

Abstract

We studied the solar magnetic cycle dependence of cosmic ray depressions due to the corotating high-speed solar wind streams (CSWS) during different polarity states of the heliosphere, The daily averaged cosmic ray intensity data from Climax, Oulu, and Thule neutron monitors together with simultaneous solar wind plasma and field data were subjected to the superposed epoch analysis with respect to CSWS start time. These analyses were carried out separately in different polarity states of the heliosphere A < 0 and A > 0 during solar minimum as well as during the periods of variable solar activity. Although the average variations in the solar wind velocity, IMF strength, and its variance are almost similar, the amplitudes of CSWS-associated cosmic ray depressions are quite different during different polarity epochs; they are larger during A > 0 than A < 0 periods. Further, correlation analysis between cosmic ray intensity and solar wind velocity during CSWS shows differences in their relationship during A > 0 and A < 0; they are much better during A > 0 than A < 0. Two other solar wind parameters, IMF strength and its variance, do not show a significant relationship with cosmic ray intensity change through the passage of these streams, although the initial depression coincides the enhancement of the two parameters. These results are discussed in the light of existing models of galactic cosmic ray modulation. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.