Weather induced effects on extensive air showers observed with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

TL;DR

This paper investigates how weather conditions influence the detection rate of extensive air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory, highlighting the importance of atmospheric effects on cosmic ray measurements.

Contribution

It demonstrates the correlation between weather variables and air shower detection rates, supported by simulations with realistic atmospheric profiles.

Findings

Detection rate modulated by ground pressure and air density

Simulations confirm atmospheric effects on shower development

Weather conditions significantly impact cosmic ray observations

Abstract

The rate of events measured with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory is found to be modulated by the weather conditions. This effect is due to the increasing amount of matter traversed by the shower as the ground pressure increases and to the inverse proportionality of the Moliere radius to the air density near ground. Air-shower simulations with different realistic profiles of the atmosphere support this interpretation of the observed effects.