Parameterization of cosmic radiation at sea level

Abstract

In the marine atmosphere, small ions are produced mainly by cosmic radiation. The production rate q of small ion pairs at sea level is modulated in time by the 11‐year sunspot cycle. Cosmic radiation is deflected in the magnetosphere by Lorentz forces and, consequently, q is also modulated with respect to geomagnetic latitude. Comparing empirical values of q , observed on different locations at different times, only makes sense when both the solar and the latitude modulations are accounted for. A review of the literature on cosmic radiation at sea level has resulted in a most probable parameterization of both of these modulations in the present study.