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For over 60 years, neutron monitors have remained the main standard, stable instrument for the measurement of cosmic rays with energies from 400 MeV to hundreds of GeV. In order to obtain sufficiently complete information about the distribution of cosmic rays outside the magnetosphere, it is necessary to have a network of detectors that are fairly evenly spaced around the globe. One of the most useful methods to obtain the properties of the angular distribution of cosmic rays without decomposition into harmonics is the ring of station method. It allows one to obtain the instantaneous (more precisely, hourly) longitudinal distribution of the intensity of cosmic rays without its modeling. The main goal of this work is to expand the use of the ring of station method, a convenient and useful method for the study of cosmic ray variations.

Specific features of the behavior of streams of relativistic magnetospheric electrons at energies higher than 2 MeV on geostationary orbits during different types of interplanetary disturbances are studied. More than 30 years (1986–2019) of observations of these particles onboard the GOES satellites is analyzed. It is shown that plasma coronal ejections and high-speed streams from coronal holes differently influence the behavior of high-energy electrons. High-speed streams from coronal holes are more effective In formation of electron flux rises than solar plasma ejections.

The IZMIRAN database of Forbush effects and interplanetary disturbances has been used to study long-term changes in the number and magnitude of Forbush effects in the last six solar cycles (1957–2016) for cosmic rays of rigidity of 10 GV. Solar activity cycles have been shown to be well expressed in data of Forbush effects, especially in large magnitude events that almost disappear in minima. The changes in the distribution of Forbush effects and the decrease in their average values from solar activity maximum to minimum are explained by the predominance of cosmic-ray variations due to the action of coronal holes at low activity. It should be noted that the current cycle involves fewer and generally weaker Forbush effects than in the previous five cycles. For each month, an FD index combining the magnitude and number of Forbush effects and convenient for studying long-term variations has been proposed and calculated.

One of the variants of the global survey method developed and used for many years at the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radio Wave Propagation of the Russian Academy of Sciences is described. Data from the world network of neutron monitors for every hour from July 1957 to the present has been processed by this method. A consistent continuous series of hourly characteristics of variation of the density and vector anisotropy of cosmic rays with a rigidity of 10 GV is obtained. A database of Forbush decreases in galactic cosmic rays caused by large-scale disturbances of the interplanetary medium for more than half a century has been created based on this series. The capabilities of the database make it possible to perform a correlation analysis of various parameters of the space environment (characteristics of the Sun, solar wind, and interplanetary magnetic field) with the parameters of cosmic rays and to study their interrelationships in the solar–terrestrial space. The features of reception coefficients for different stations are considered, which allows the transition from variations according to ground measurements to variations of primary cosmic rays. The advantages and disadvantages of this variant of the global survey method and the opportunities for its development and improvement are assessed. The developed method makes it possible to minimize the problems of the network of neutron monitors and to make significant use of its advantages.

The IZMIRAN database of Forbush effects and interplanetary disturbances was used to study features of the action of high-speed solar wind streams from coronal holes on cosmic rays. Three hundred and fifty Forbush effects created by coronal holes without other actions were distinguished. The mean values and distributions have been found for different characteristics of events from this group and compared with all Forbush effects and Forbush effects caused by coronal ejections. Despite the great differences in high-speed streams from coronal holes, this group turned out to be more compact and uniform as compared to events related to coronal ejections. Regression dependences and correlation relations between different parameters of events for the studied groups have been obtained. It has been shown that Forbush effects caused by coronal ejections depend considerably more strongly on the characteristics of interplanetary disturbances as compared to Forbush effects related to coronal holes. This suggests a significant difference between the modulation mechanisms of Forbush effects of different types and corroborates earlier conclusions based on indirect data.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) not only produce Forbush effects but contribute to long-term modulations of cosmic rays. That makes coronal ejections the main sporadic manifestations of the solar activity, which should be considered in modulation models. In this paper, a new version of the CME-index is proposed based on a comparison of the data from satellite coronographs with Forbush effects and long-term variations of cosmic rays.

Since 1998, the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radio Wave Propagation (IZMIRAN) has had an operating heliogeophysical service—the Center for Space Weather Forecasts. This center transfers the results of basic research in solar–terrestrial physics into daily forecasting of various space weather parameters for various lead times. The forecasts are promptly available to interested consumers. This article describes the center and the main types of forecasts it provides: solar and geomagnetic activity, magnetospheric electron fluxes, and probabilities of proton increases. The challenges associated with the forecasting of effects of coronal mass ejections and coronal holes are discussed. Verification data are provided for the center’s forecasts.

We consider the behavior of anisotropy and density of galactic cosmic rays in the first hours of Forbush effects from 1957 to 2014 initiated by the arrival of a shock wave. It has been shown that, as early as the event commencement, the first harmonic of anisotropy tends to increase substantially and its direction changes significantly. The more is powerful the interplanetary disturbance, the greater are the changes. Based on changes in some parameters of anisotropy and density, we can estimate the heliolongitude of the disturbance source, as well as the further development of the Forbush effect and geomagnetic activity.

Variations in the cosmic-ray vector anisotropy observed on Earth are closely connected with the state of the near-Earth interplanetary medium. Hourly characteristics of vector anisotropy for the period 1957–2013, which were obtained by the global survey method from the data of the worldwide network of neutron monitors, make it possible to study the relationship between the cosmic-ray anisotropy and solar wind parameters. In the present work, we have studied the connection between the equatorial component of anisotropy of cosmic rays with a rigidity of 10 GV and the following parameters: velocity and density of the solar wind; density of the interplanetary magnetic field; and cosmic-ray density variations, in which the spatial gradient of cosmic rays in the interplanetary medium is manifested. The characteristics of cosmic-ray anisotropy at various combinations of the interplanetary medium parameters are compared. The possibility of diagnosing the solar wind state from data on the cosmic-ray anisotropy is discussed.

We analyze variations in the rigidity spectrum of primary cosmic rays during Forbush effects recorded in cycles 20–24 of solar activity on the basis of data from the global network of neutron monitor stations processed by global survey. We investigate variations in the rigidity spectrum index of Forbush effects as a function of the solar activity level, phases of the effect, polarity the total magnetic field of the Sun, type and parameters of the source of cosmic ray modulation, etc. Comprehensive analysis of our results revealed regularities in the dynamics of the energy spectrum of galactic cosmic rays that reflect the dynamic processes occurring in the interplanetary space.

Variations in the cosmic ray density during the initial phase of the Forbush effect during the first hours after the arrival of the interplanetary shock wave have been studied with the use of data on variations in the cosmic ray density with a rigidity of 10 GV obtained by the global survey method by the world network of neutron monitors in 1957‒2012. It is found that behavior of this parameter after the arrival of the shock wave demonstrates high variability. A small (~1/5 of total number), though distinct, group of Forbush effects, in which the density of the cosmic ray increases (not decreases) after the arrival of the shock wave, is defined. As a whole, the initial variation in cosmic ray density is correlated with the Forbush effect magnitude and the strength of the associated geomagnetic disturbance.

Vertical geomagnetic cutoff rigidities are obtained for the stations of the global network of neutron monitors via trajectory calculations for each year of the period from 1950 to 2020. Geomagnetic cutoff rigidities are found from the model of the Earth’s main field International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) for 1950–2015, and the forecast until 2020 is provided. In addition, the geomagnetic cutoff rigidities for the same period are obtained by Tsyganenko model T89 (Tsyganenko, 1989) with the average annual values of the Kp-index. In each case, the penumbra is taken into account in the approximation of the flat and power spectra of variations of cosmic rays. The calculation results show an overall decrease in geomagnetic cutoff rigidities, which is associated with the overall decrease and restructuring of the geomagnetic field during the reporting period, at almost all points.

Long term cosmic ray variations in the heliosphere in cycles 21–24 are described using the multiparametric model, including characteristics of solar activity. Long-term observations of the cosmic ray intensity, global solar magnetic field characteristics, and characteristics taking into account sporadic solar activity are the initial data for modeling cosmic ray variations. Data on intensity have been obtained from observations at the global ground network of neutron monitors and stratospheric sounding. The characteristics of the regions with an open magnetic field (coronal holes) have been introduced into the model in order to improve the description of long-term variations. The location (latitude), area, and magnetic flux of coronal holes have been used as parameters of this solar activity type manifestation. The modulation has been modeled for the entire studied period (1976–2012) and independently for periods with identical global solar magnetic field directions with regard to the cosmic ray variation delay relative to variations in the solar activity characteristics. It has been shown that the accuracy of long-term variation description improves when coronal hole characteristics are taken into account.

Recent years allowed us to study long-term variations in the cosmic ray (CR) intensity at an unusually deep solar activity (SA) minimum between cycles 23 and 24 and during the SA growth phase in cycle 24, which was the cycle when SA was the lowest for the epoch of regular ground-based CR observations since 1951. The intensity maximum, the value of which depends on the particle energy, was observed in CR variations during the period of an unusually prolonged SA minimum: the CR density during the aformentioned period (2009) is higher than this density at previous CR maxima in cycles 19–23 for low-energy particles (observed on spacecraft and in the stratosphere) and medium-energy particles (observed with neutron monitors). After 2009 CR modulation at the SA growth phase was much weaker over three years (2010–2012) than during the corresponding SA growth periods in the previous cycles. The possible causes of this anomaly in CR variations, which are related to the CR residual modulation value at a minimum between cycles 23 and 24 and to variations in SA characteristics during this period, were examined. The contribution of different solar magnetic field characteristics and indices, taking into account sporadic solar activity, has been estimated.

The distinguished directions, dependent on the solar wind velocity and IMF line position, exist in the interplanetary space, which results in the nonuniform distribution of phases and the amplitude-phase interrelation of the first cosmic ray anisotropy harmonic. The characteristics of the first anisotropy harmonics, determined for each hour using the global survey method based on the worldwide neutron monitor network from 1957 to 2010, were used to study long-period variations in the cosmic ray anisotropy. The longitudinal distributions of the cosmic ray vector anisotropy and the interrelation between the anisotropy amplitude and phase have been obtained for each year in this time interval. The results evidently demonstrate the anisotropy variations caused by the solar magnetic and activity cycles. The anisotropy distributions at different solar wind velocities have also been studied. Periods with a specific cosmic ray anisotropy behavior are distinguished and discussed. The obtained cosmic ray anisotropy variations agree with the convection-diffusion anisotropy model.

All significant events in galactic cosmic rays for the last 55 years have been collected in a Forbush effect database created at the Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radiowave Propagation (hereinafter, IZMIRAN) based on data from the global network of neutron monitors. The solar sources of ∼800 of these events have been identified. These events were divided into five groups with respect to the heliolongitudes of the associated X-ray solar flares, and typical behavior of their characteristics such as cosmic ray density and anisotropy, was studied independently for each group. The Forbush effect characteristics, which are the most dependent on the source heliolongitude, have been identified.

The relationship between solar and geomagnetic activities in connection with seismicity and vol� canic eruptions on the globe during the period 1680-2010 is studied. The centennial cycles of terrestrial endogenous activity, related to solar and geomagnetic activity, are revealed; at the beginning of these cycles, solar cycles with small Wolf numbers were detected, while intensive seismic and volcanic activity was observed for several decades. A stable negative correlation between seismicity and volcanism, on the one hand, and solar and geomagnetic activity, on the other hand, were found. Experiments, which were simultaneously car� ried out at the Pushkov Institute of Geomagnetism, Ionosphere, and Radiowave Propagation, Russian Acad� emy of Sciences (IZMIRAN), Troitsk, Moscow oblast, and the Karymshina Complex Geophysical Observa� tory, Kamchatka Branch, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences, have verified the suggestion that disturbances in the geomagnetic field and neutron generation occur during the early stages of strong earthquakes. It is supposed that the mechanism of primary generation of terrestrial neutrons is related to nuclear reactions in the Earth's interior.

Modulation of galactic cosmic rays in cycles 19–23 of solar activity has been determined based on observations of their long-term variations on the ground and in the near-Earth space. The extreme values of long-term variations in cosmic rays, obtained from the data of continuous cosmic radiation monitoring on the ground and in the near-Earth space in the last five solar cycles, have been analyzed. The results are compared with the extrema in the characteristics of solar magnetic fields and the sunspot numbers in these cycles. The similarities and differences in cosmic ray modulation between different cycles are discussed.

For a comprehensive study of the Forbush effects and their relation to solar and geomagnetic activity, a database of transient phenomena in cosmic rays and the interplanetary medium has been created, which is continuously updated with data on new events. Based on these data, we study the dependence of the Forbush effects on various internal and external parameters, as well as select different groups of events. In this paper, we consider recurrent (caused by high-speed solar wind streams from coronal holes) and sporadic (associated with coronal mass ejections) events. We investigate groups of events with a sudden and gradual onset. We show that the resulting dependencies of the Forbush effects (on the parameters of interplanetary disturbances, geomagnetic activity indices, etc.) are substantially different for the above-mentioned groups. Most likely, these differences are caused by different sources of solar wind disturbances.

This paper describes a method, which makes it possible to eliminate the effect of snow cover from the neutron component of secondary cosmic radiation. For many circumpolar, high-latitude, and mountain stations, where cosmic rays are continuously registered, it is exclusively important to take the presence of snow into consideration. Comparisons are made for manual and automated measurements, which are corrected for the snow effect based on the developed algorithm. The described method was tested for a number of cosmic ray stations where considerable snow masses are accumulated during the winter period near or above a detector: Magadan, Mount Hermon, Jungfraujoch, and Nain.

Based on observations of long-term variations in galactic cosmic rays (CRs) on Earth and in the near-Earth space, we have determined, using our own semiempirical model, modulation of galactic CRs during solar cycles 19–23. The modulation model relates CR variations to the characteristics of the solar magnetic field obtained for the surface of the solar wind source at distances of 2.50 and 3.25 solar radii. The main focus is CR behavior at the minimums of cycles 19–23 and specific features of CR modulation at a prolonged (as compared to previous cycles) minimum of cycle 23, which is still ongoing. CR modulation at minimums related to a change in the solar field dipole component during this period of the cycle has been considered. It is indicated that the long-term variations in CRs are better described if the last two years (2007 and 2008) of cycle 23 with anomalously low solar activity (SA) are included in the model. The role and value of the contribution of the cyclic variations in each index used in the proposed CR modulation model to the observed CR modulation have been estimated.

The catalog of ground level enhancements of solar cosmic rays during cycles 21—23 of solar activity has been presented. The main properties, time distribution, and relation of these events to solar sources and proton enhancements observed on satellites have been studied.

It has been indicated that 2007 is the year with clearly defined indications typical of a deep solar cycle minimum. In this case this year has no analogs for the entire period of regular solar and geomagnetic parameters concerning very many parameters. The specific behavior of different solar and magnetic activity indices in 2007 has been indicated in comparison with such a behavior of similar characteristics during other periods.

The possibilities of improving the semiempirical model of cosmic ray (CR) modulation, proposed by us previously, are discussed. The following characteristics have been considered as model parameters in order to describe long-period CR variations using a unified model and to more completely reflect solar cycles in CR modulation as a complex interaction between two systems of fields (large-scale and local): the value and sign of the polar solar field, the average strength of the solar magnetic field (the Bss integral index), partial indices (zone-even (ZE) and zone-odd (ZO) and sector-even (SE) and sector-odd (SO) indices), the tilt of the heliospheric current sheet, and the special index (Fx) taking into account X ray flares. The role of each index in CR modulation has been revealed. When we described the long-term CR variations using many parameters and taking into account the integral index or one of four partial indices, the best results of modulation modeling during 1976–1999 were obtained for the Bss total energetic index and SO index. A difference between the model calculations and observations increases beginning from the middle of 2000; the problem features of the CR behavior and the specific features of modeling this behavior in cycle 23 of solar activity (SA) are discussed. It is assumed that a decrease in the CR density at the last SA minimums (from cycle to cycle) can be related to a decrease in the ZO index and to a recently detected similar decrease in the vertical component of the solar dipole magnetic moment.

Results of the continuous ground-based monitoring of the cosmic ray flux by neutron monitors are used as an experimental material for many works devoted to studying cosmic ray variations. Long-term stability of detectors is the problem of an extreme importance. Two independent methods for estimating long-term stability of neutron monitor operation have been proposed. The quantitative estimates have been obtained for 90 detectors that operated and have been operating during more than one solar cycle. The conditions responsible for long-term stability of a detector and the causes of instability have been considered.

The solar magnetic field B s at the Earth’s projection onto the solar-wind source surface has been calculated for each day over a long time interval (1976–2004). These data have been compared with the daily mean solar wind (SW) velocities and various components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) near the Earth. The statistical analysis has revealed a rather close relationship between the solar-wind parameters near the Sun and near the Earth in the periods without significant sporadic solar and interplanetary disturbances. Empirical numerical models have been proposed for calculating the solar-wind velocity, IMF intensity, and IMF longitudinal and B z components from the solar magnetic data. In all these models, the B s value plays the main role. It is shown that, under quiet or weakly disturbed conditions, the variations in the geomagnetic activity index Ap can be forecasted for 3–5 days ahead on the basis of solar magnetic observations. Such a forecast proves to be more reliable than the forecasts based on the traditional methods.