Time variability of high energy cosmic rays

TL;DR

This paper models the long-term variability of high-energy cosmic rays, particularly PeV particles, and explores their potential influence on terrestrial lightning and biological effects over tens of thousands of years.

Contribution

It introduces a statistical model for cosmic ray intensity variations over time and assesses their possible impact on Earth's atmospheric phenomena and biology.

Findings

PeV cosmic ray intensities have varied significantly over tens of thousands of years.

Past fluctuations in cosmic rays could have influenced lightning activity and biological processes.

The model provides a basis for understanding cosmic ray effects on Earth's environment historically.

Abstract

Our model involving cosmic ray acceleration in supernova remnants has been used to predict cosmic ray intensities over long periods of time on a statistical basis. If, as is highly probable, extensive air showers caused by PeV cosmic rays are needed to initiate terrestrial lightning then past dramatic changes in PeV intensities may have had important biological effects. The model has been used to estimate the manner in which the PeV cosmic ray intensity at Earth has varied over the past tens of thousand years.