Barometric effect of neutron component of cosmic rays at Antarctic station «Mirny»

Abstract

The barometric effect of cosmic ray neutron component was estimated on the example of the Antarctic station Mirny. We used hourly data from continuous monitoring of neutron component and data from a local weather station for 2007–2014. Wind speed at the station Mirny reaches 20–40 m/s in winter that corresponds to the dynamic pressure 5–6 mbar and leads to a 5 % error in variations of neutron component because of dynamic effects in the atmosphere. The results can be applied to detectors located in high-latitude and high-mountain regions where the wind speed can be significant.

Keywords

• galactic cosmic ray variations
• barometric effect
• neutron monitors