Common features of gamma-radiation increase at different stations from Arctic to mid-latitudes

Abstract

Background gamma-radiation (20-400 KeV) monitoring in the near-surface layer of the atmosphere has been carried out by Polar Geophysical Institute (PGI) for many years. This radiation originates in the atmosphere by cosmic rays. In propagation through the atmosphere, the flux of soft radiation experiences variations which are induced by various processes in the atmosphere. A unique and extensive database has been collected on the level of the soft gamma-radiation occurring in 2009-2017. Measurements are made with the help of similar detectors developed at PGI. All the stations observe the event which was for the first time discovered by the authors: gamma-background increase at precipitation. These increases are not related to any radionuclides in precipitation. Increases are observed only in the electromagnetic component originating in the atmosphere from cosmic rays. The complex analysis of the data collected has shown that the characteristics of the events (such as amplitude, duration, the count-rate, a total energy) have clear differences through the seasons at each station. The analysis of the events shows that variations of the background gamma-radiation can be used to study some atmospheric processes in the lower atmosphere.