Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit

Abstract The suppression of high‐energy cosmic rays, known as Forbush decreases (FDs), represents a promising factor in influencing the global electric circuit (GEC) system. Researchers have delved into these effects by examining variations, often disruptive, of the potential gradient (PG) in ground...

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Main Authors: J. Tacza, G. Li, J.‐P. Raulin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-04-01
Series:Space Weather
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003852
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author J. Tacza
G. Li
J.‐P. Raulin
author_facet J. Tacza
G. Li
J.‐P. Raulin
author_sort J. Tacza
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The suppression of high‐energy cosmic rays, known as Forbush decreases (FDs), represents a promising factor in influencing the global electric circuit (GEC) system. Researchers have delved into these effects by examining variations, often disruptive, of the potential gradient (PG) in ground‐based measurements taken in fair weather regions. In this paper, we aim to investigate deviations observed in the diurnal curve of the PG, as compared to the mean values derived from fair weather conditions, during both mild and strong Forbush decreases. Unlike the traditional classification of FDs, which are based on ground level neutron monitor data, we classify FDs using measurements of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS‐02) on the International Space Station. To conduct our analysis, we employ the superposed epoch method, focusing on PGs collected between January 2010 and December 2019 at a specific station situated at a low latitude and high altitude: the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO) in Argentina (31.78°S, 2,550 m above sea level). Our findings reveal that for events associated with FDs having flux amplitude (A) decrease ≤10%, no significant change in the PG is observed. However, for FDs with A > 10%, a clear increase in the PG is seen. For these A > 10% events, we also find a good correlation between the variation of Dst and Kp indices and the variation of PG.
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spelling doaj-art-01076d74a3ea44b3b0de46ddb22c78ce2025-01-14T16:27:27ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902024-04-01224n/an/a10.1029/2023SW003852Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric CircuitJ. Tacza0G. Li1J.‐P. Raulin2Institute of Geophysics Polish Academic of Sciences Warsaw PolandCSPAR University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USACenter of Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics Mackenzie Engineering School Mackenzie Presbyterian University Sao Paulo BrazilAbstract The suppression of high‐energy cosmic rays, known as Forbush decreases (FDs), represents a promising factor in influencing the global electric circuit (GEC) system. Researchers have delved into these effects by examining variations, often disruptive, of the potential gradient (PG) in ground‐based measurements taken in fair weather regions. In this paper, we aim to investigate deviations observed in the diurnal curve of the PG, as compared to the mean values derived from fair weather conditions, during both mild and strong Forbush decreases. Unlike the traditional classification of FDs, which are based on ground level neutron monitor data, we classify FDs using measurements of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS‐02) on the International Space Station. To conduct our analysis, we employ the superposed epoch method, focusing on PGs collected between January 2010 and December 2019 at a specific station situated at a low latitude and high altitude: the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO) in Argentina (31.78°S, 2,550 m above sea level). Our findings reveal that for events associated with FDs having flux amplitude (A) decrease ≤10%, no significant change in the PG is observed. However, for FDs with A > 10%, a clear increase in the PG is seen. For these A > 10% events, we also find a good correlation between the variation of Dst and Kp indices and the variation of PG.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003852Forbush Decreasepotential gradientglobal electric circuit
spellingShingle J. Tacza
G. Li
J.‐P. Raulin
Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
Space Weather
Forbush Decrease
potential gradient
global electric circuit
title Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
title_full Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
title_fullStr Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
title_short Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit
title_sort effects of forbush decreases on the global electric circuit
topic Forbush Decrease
potential gradient
global electric circuit
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003852
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