Cosmic Ray Measurements in the Atmosphere

We present the main characteristics of cosmic ray population in the atmosphere and its variability (11-and 22-year solar cycle variations, solar protons originating from powerful solar flares, energetic electron precipitation during geomagnetic disturbances and Forbush decreases of cosmic rays). The experimental data were obtained from the long-term cosmic ray monitoring in the atmosphere from 1957 to now. The relationship between cosmic ray fluxes, and atmospheric processes are also discussed. 1. METHOD OF REGULAR MEASUREMENTS OF COSMIC RAYS IN THE ATMOSPHERE Regular cosmic ray measurements of cosmic rays are carried out with different instruments: ionization chambers, meson telescopes, and neutron monitors on the ground. The idea of cosmic ray monitoring in the atmosphere with radiosondes was suggested by Prof. S.N. Vernov in the middle of fifties and was realized by him and Prof. A.N. Charakhchyan in 1957. Now the cosmic ray monitoring cover a wide range of cosmic ray energy spectrum. It is schematically shown in Fig. 1.