EFFECTS OF THE GALACTIC COSMIC RAY VARIATIONS ON THE CLOUDINESS STATE

摘要

Effects of Forbush-decreases of the galactic cosmic rays on the cloudiness state have been investigated in the different latitudinal belts. It has been found that the variations of the total cloud cover are the most pronounced in the latitudinal belt φ ≈ 60-64°N and disappear at the lower latitudes. In auroral zone the Forbush-decrease effects seem to be superposed by the effects of X-rays generated by the electron precipitations. It is shown that the cloudiness variations associated with the Forbush-decreases in the galactic cosmic ray flux correlate with the presence of cirrus clouds which are formed at the altitudes reached by particles with the energy ～ 1000 MeV. The changes found in the total cloud cover seem to influence significantly the radiation budget in the lower atmosphere, that in turn may result in the changes in the atmospheric circulation.