Time variations of intensity in the Earth's inner radiation zone, October 1959 through December 1960

Abstract

Time ariations of almost a factor of three were observed in the lower portion of the inner Van Allen belt with the Anton 302 Geiger tube in Explorer VII (satellite 1959 Iota) during the period October 13, 1959 through December 31, 1960. The time variation appears to occur in discrete staps which are temporally correlated with major solar proton events and/or major geomagnetic storms. In one instance, a significant change in inner zone intensities occurred within a period of less than two weeks. It is concluded that a strong impulsive source of the trapped particles throughout the inner zone exists and is of more quantitative importance than the neutron albedo decay products of the galactic cosmic radiation. (auth)