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Published 2001 | Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

The Evolution of Galactic Cosmic Ray Element Spectra from Solar Minimum to Solar Maximim: ACE Measurements

Abstract

The spectra of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) elements from Beryllium to Nickel in the energy range 40 - 500 MeV/nucleon at 1 AU are being continuously measured by instruments on-board the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). The collecting power of these instruments allows statistically precise spectra to be calculated every few months for most elements. Measurements of temporal variations in GCR spectra over the solar cycle are important for understanding solar modulation processes, and also for refining models of the near-earth radiation environment used to perform shielding and dose calculations for manned and unmanned space missions. We report on ACE observations of the evolution of GCR element spectra from solar minimum in 1997 through Spring 2001. We find significant differences between the ACE measurements and the predictions of available models of the near-Earth radiation environment, suggesting that these models need revision. We describe a cosmic ray interstellar propagation and solar modulation model that provides an improved fit to the ACE measurements compared to radiation environment models currently in use.

Additional Information

© Copernicus GmbH. This research was supported by NASA at the California Institute of Technology (under grant NAG5-6912), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Goddard Space Flight Center, and Washington University. We are grateful to Gautam D. Badhwar at NASA Johnson Space Flight Center for providing GCR environment model data, and to the developers of CREME96 for presenting their programs on the Web for public use,

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