Spaceweather.com published a short report indicating that for the past year, neutron monitors around the Arctic Circle have sensed an increasing intensity of cosmic rays. Polar latitudes are a good place to make such measurements, because the magnetic field funnels and concentrates cosmic radiation there. Turns out, the Earth poles are not the only place cosmic rays are intensifying. Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have been launching helium balloons to the stratosphere to measure radiation, and they find the same trend over California. A plot of the data including neutron monitor measurements from the University of Oulu Cosmic Ray Station against the gamma-ray/X-ray measurements over California shows a remarkable agreement between the two curves. It means that the intensification of cosmic rays is making itself felt not only over the poles, but also over lower latitudes where the magnetic field of the Earth normally provides a greater degree of protection against deep space radiation. Cosmic rays, which are accelerated toward Earth by distant supernova explosions and other violent events, are an important form of space weather.
They can seed clouds, and trigger lightning. The reason for this unusual widespread increase in radiation from the Sun and space beyond is presently unknown but scientists around the world are considering a number of issues. One potential cause already under consideration is that the magnetic field of the Earth is decreasing in intensity, and therefore allowing more radiation through to the surface of the Earth. Another cause may be the low solar activity that allows an extra dose of cosmic rays to reach Earth, so the current increase in cosmic ray intensity is probably due to a decline in the solar cycle, because the Solar Maximum has passed and the Sun is proceeding toward a new Solar Minimum. Forecasters expect solar activity to drop sharply in the years ahead, allowing cosmic rays to increase accordingly.
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