[P-EM16] Heliosphere and Interplanetary Space

[PEM16-05] Conceptual research for a cosmic-ray muon observation in the Arctic region

*Masayoshi Kozai¹, Akira Kadokura^1,2,3, Ryuho Kataoka^2,3, Chihiro Kato⁴, Kazuoki Munakata⁴, Shoko Miyake⁵, Hirohisa Sakurai⁶ (1.ROIS-DS, 2.NIPR, 3.SOKENDAI, 4.Shinshu University, 5.KOSEN, Ibaraki College, 6.Yamagata University)

Keywords:Galactic cosmic rays, Muon, Polar region

Ground-based muon observation features high sensitivity to the anisotropy of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). The anisotropy manifests the electromagnetic environment in the heliosphere through which GCRs propagate from the interstellar space, and its study provides us with unique contributions to space weather and space climate research. A worldwide observation is necessary to capture dynamic variations of the anisotropy, and we started a study to install a new muon detector in the Arctic region.
The Global Muon Detector Network (GMDN) is a worldwide network of muon detectors and achieved an initial goal of covering low-mid latitude regions by completing a Kuwait station in 2016. A muon observation in Syowa station in Antarctica started in 2018 to expand our network to the polar region. We are considering observation in the Arctic region, especially Iceland, to enhance scientific achievements using a combined observation with Syowa station. Less effective geomagnetic bias on GCRs in the polar region is expected to provide a unique contribution to the anisotropy study. We will report on the quantitative estimation of scientific achievements expected from the polar observation using a numerical calculation of the geomagnetic and atmospheric propagation of cosmic rays.