Atmospheric effects on cosmic-ray muon rate at high latitude (78.9{\deg}N)

TL;DR

This study analyzes six years of cosmic-ray muon data at high latitude, revealing seasonal atmospheric effects and comparing temperature correction methods with other locations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of atmospheric effects on muon rates at high latitude and introduces a tailored approach for temperature correction.

Findings

Pronounced annual modulation in muon rates due to atmospheric variations

Effective temperature correction coefficients established for high-latitude site

Comparison of correction coefficients with lower latitude stations

Abstract

Since 2019, three scintillator detectors of the EEE collaboration have been continuously measuring cosmic muon rates at 78.9{\deg}N at the Ny-{\AA}lesund Research Station (Svalbard). The resulting six-year time series reveals a pronounced annual modulation, driven primarily by seasonal atmospheric variations. Utilizing routine radiosonde profiles collected above the same site, we applied several established techniques --along with a tailored analysis approach-- to investigate the relationship between muon rate and atmospheric temperature. The temperature-corrected muon-rates are analysed using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram technique in order to investigate the presence of remaining periodic structures. Finally, the temperature corrections coefficients of our analysis are compared with measurements in other stations located at lower latitudes.