Abstract
As known, the ionosphere and the neutral atmosphere of the Earth are constantly exposed to energetic charged particles of extraterrestrial origin, first of all—galactic cosmic rays, and at times—and particles accelerated by the Sun. In addition, particles of radiation belts (ERBs) are always present in the Earth’s magnetosphere. This corpuscular environment of the Earth, along with the electromagnetic radiation of the Sun, plays a huge role in the physics of near-Earth space and in solar-terrestrial relations in general. Below we briefly consider some of the effects caused by the action of energetic particles on various layers of the ionosphere and atmosphere.
In recent decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the geophysical effects of cosmic rays, especially of solar origin, so to illustrate these effects, as in the previous chapter, we again turn to SCR. Their impact leads to such phenomena as the absorption of short radio waves in the ionosphere (the PCA effect in the polar caps of the Earth), the depletion of the ozone layer (O3), and increased conductivity in the global electrical circuit (GEC) of the atmosphere. In this case, changes in the parameters of Schumann resonances in the “Earth-ionosphere” waveguide and deterioration of the transparency of the atmosphere are also observed. In addition, at the heights of the stratosphere, and especially in the lower atmosphere (troposphere), there are processes of generation of some cosmogenic isotopes-radionuclides (radiocarbon 14C and radioactive isotopes 10Ве, 26Al, 36Cl). Numerous nitrogen compounds are also formed here, including NOx nitrates (i.e., nitrogen oxide and dioxide—NO and NO2, respectively). It also cannot be ruled out that SCRs can directly or indirectly (through the global electric circuit, GEC) affect the dynamics of purely tropospheric (meteorological) phenomena (for example, atmospheric vorticity).
“Gutta cavat lapidem”—“A drop wears away a stone”.
P. Ovidius Naso
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bazilevskaya GA (2005) Solar cosmic rays in the near Earth space and the atmosphere. Adv Space Res 35:458–464
Cobb WE (1967) Evidence of a solar influence on the atmospheric electric elements at Mauna Loa Observatory. Monthly Weather Rev 95(12):905–911
Cobb WE (1978) Balloon measurements of the air-Earth current density at the South Pole before and after a solar flare. In: Conference on cloud physics and atmosphere electricity. American Meteorology Society, Issaquah, Wash., July 31–August 4
Crutzen PJ, Isaksen ISA, Reid GC (1975) Solar proton events: stratospheric sources of nitric oxide. Science 189(4201):457–458
Dreschhoff GAM, Zeller EJ (1990) Evidence of individual solar proton events in Antarctic snow. Solar Phys 127:333–346
Ermakov VI, Stozhkov YuI (2003). Cosmic ray fluxes in the atmospheric processes. In: Proceedings of ISCS 2003 symposium “Solar Variability as an Input to the Earth’s environment” Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia, 23–28 June 2003, ESA SP-535, September 2003, pp 359–362
Gurevich AV, Zybin KP, Russel-Dupre R (1999) Lightning initiation by simultaneous effect of runaway breakdown and cosmic ray showers. Phys Lett A254:79–87
Heath DF, Krueger AJ, Crutzen PJ (1977) Solar proton event: influence on stratospheric ozone. Science 197:886–889
Kirkby J (2009) Cosmic rays and climate. CERN Colloquium, 4 June 2009
Kocharov GE (1991) Cosmic rays in the past. Nucl Phys B (Proc Suppl) 22B:153–164
Krymsky GF (2002) Cosmic rays and near-Earth space. Solar-Terrestrial Phys 2(115):42–45
Larin IK (2000) Chemistry of the ozone layer and life on the Earth. Chemistry and life. XXI century (in Russian) 7:10–15
Markson P (1978) Atmospheric electricity and problem of relationship between solar activity and weather. In: McCormac BM, Seliga TA (eds) Solar - terrestrial influences on weather and climate. Dodrecht, p 242–264
Miroshnichenko LI (2008) Solar cosmic rays in the system of solar-terrestrial relations (Review). J Atmos Solar-Terrestrial Physics (Special Issue of ISROSES Proceedings) 70:450–466
Miroshnichenko LI (2011) Physics of the Sun and solar-terrestrial relations. - Ed. M.I. Panasyuk. Moscow, SINP MSU: University book, p 174, fig 90 tab 8 ISBN 978-5-91304-191-3. lib.qserty.ru/static/tutorials/133_Miroshnichenko_2011.pdf
Neher HV (1971) Cosmic rays at high latitudes and altitudes covering four solar maxima. J Geophys Res 76(7):1637–1651
Pudovkin MI, Vinogradova NYA, Veretenenko SV (1997) Variations of atmospheric transparency during the bursts of solar protons. Geomagn Aeron 37(2):124–126
Pudovkin MI, Raspopov OM (1992) The mechanism of action of solar activity on the state of the lower atmosphere and meteorological parameters (A review). Geomagn Aeron 32(5):1–22
Quack M, Kallenrode M-B, von König M, Künzi K, Burrows J, Heber B, Wolff E (2001) Ground level events and consequences for stratospheric chemistry. Proc 27th Int Cosmic Ray Conf Hamburg Germany 10:4023–4026
Roldughin VK, Vashenyuk EV (1994) Change of atmosphere transparency under the action of solar cosmic rays. Geomagn Aeron 34(2):155–158
Schumann WO (1952) Über die strahlungslosen Eigenschwingungen einer leitenden Kugel, die von einer Luftschicht und einer Ionosphärenhülle umgeben ist. Z Naturforsch A(7):149–152
Shea MA, Smart DF (2000) Cosmic ray implications for human health. Space Sci Rev 93:187–205
Tinsley BA, Deen GW (1991) Apparent tropospheric response to MeV-GeV particle flux variations: a connection via electrofreezing of supercold water in high-level clouds? J Geophys Res 96(D12):22283–22296
Tinsley BA, Yu F (2004) Atmospheric ionization and clouds as links between solar activity and climate. In: Pap J, Fox P (eds) Solar variability and its effects on climate, geophysical monograph, 141. AGU Press, Washington DC, pp 321–339
Veretenenko S, Thejll P (2005) Cyclone regeneration in the North Atlantic intensified by energetic solar proton events. Adv Space Res 35:470–475
Wilson CTR (1922) The maintenance of the Earth’s charge. Observatory 45:393–484
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Miroshnichenko, L. (2023). Energetic Particles in the Geosphere. In: Solar-Terrestrial Relations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22548-2_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22548-2_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-22547-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-22548-2
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)