Observing Variations in Secondary Cosmic Ray Fluxes during a Sea Expedition in the Arctic Ocean

Precipitation-related increase events of the electromagnetic component of secondary cosmic rays: Spectral analysis

“…The detectors have several integrated outputs, the most convenient and stable channel is >100 keV. The complex for measuring SCR fluxes is described in detail by Balabin et al [2014].…”

“…The duration of the increases roughly corresponds to the duration of precipitation: after precipitation ceases, the radiation flux gradually returns to the previous level. The charged particles detectable by ground-based detectors are known to accelerate in strong electric fields of thunderclouds [de Mendonca et al, 2011;Mironychev, 2003;Muraki et al, 2004]. In addition, the effect of runaway electrons, which produce bremsstrahlung radiation, is observed [Gurevich et al, 1992;Gurevich, Milikh, 1999;Gurevich, Zybin, 2001].…”

“…Figure 1 exemplifies such increases at the stations Apatity, Barentsburg (Svalbard archipelago), and Neutrino (North Caucasus). To identify the origin of the increases, additional experiments have been carried out [Germanenko et al, 2011]. The analysis of precipitation, collected during an increase event, carried out in the radiological laboratory has shown only trace amounts of radionuclides.…”

“…Secondly, during precipitation there is no significant increase at CPD: even with a 50 % EMC increase, the possible increase in the counting rate does not exceed 3-4 %. Results of the study into increase events are reported in detail in [Germanenko et al, 2011;Balabin et al, 2014].…”

“…5. In 2020, a scintillation detector was installed on board a scientific ship performing biological research in the Barents and Greenland Seas [Balabin et al, 2022]. For two weeks, the ship was in the open sea at a distance of hundreds of kilometers from the nearest land.…”