dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaEffect of the troposphere on surface neutron counter measurements
| Authors | K. L. Aplin, R. G. Harrison, A. J. Bennett |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0503037 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0503037 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.asr.2005.02.055 |
| Journal | 35, 8, 1484-1491(2005) |
Abstract
Surface neutron counter data are often used as a proxy for atmospheric ionisation from cosmic rays in studies of extraterrestrial effects on climate. Neutron counter instrumentation was developed in the 1950s and relationships between neutron counts, ionisation and meteorological conditions were investigated thoroughly using the techniques available at the time; the analysis can now be extended using modern data. Whilst surface neutron counts are shown to be a good proxy for ionisation rate, the usual meteorological correction applied to surface neutron measurements, using surface atmospheric pressure, does not completely compensate for tropospheric effects on neutron data. Residual correlations remain between neutron counts, atmospheric pressure and geopotential height, obtained from meteorological reanalysis data. These correlations may be caused by variations in the height and temperature of the atmospheric layer at ~100hPa. This is where the primary cosmic rays interact with atmospheric air, producing a cascade of secondary ionising particles.
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"abstract": "Surface neutron counter data are often used as a proxy for atmospheric\nionisation from cosmic rays in studies of extraterrestrial effects on climate.\nNeutron counter instrumentation was developed in the 1950s and relationships\nbetween neutron counts, ionisation and meteorological conditions were\ninvestigated thoroughly using the techniques available at the time; the\nanalysis can now be extended using modern data. Whilst surface neutron counts\nare shown to be a good proxy for ionisation rate, the usual meteorological\ncorrection applied to surface neutron measurements, using surface atmospheric\npressure, does not completely compensate for tropospheric effects on neutron\ndata. Residual correlations remain between neutron counts, atmospheric pressure\nand geopotential height, obtained from meteorological reanalysis data. These\ncorrelations may be caused by variations in the height and temperature of the\natmospheric layer at ~100hPa. This is where the primary cosmic rays interact\nwith atmospheric air, producing a cascade of secondary ionising particles.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0503037",
"authors": [
"K. L. Aplin",
"R. G. Harrison",
"A. J. Bennett"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ao-ph",
"physics.geo-ph",
"physics.space-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1016/j.asr.2005.02.055",
"journal_ref": "35, 8, 1484-1491(2005)",
"title": "Effect of the troposphere on surface neutron counter measurements",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0503037"
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