Example+of+a+Researchable+CRD+Question

=**Example of a (proposed) researchable cosmic ray detector question from the TEC and detector position data represented in our Google Earth TEC/CRD-position mashup:**=

"It looks like there is greater fluctuation in Total Electron Count near the equator than near the poles. Can I find any average variance in cosmic ray flux over the range of this TEC fluxuation by latitude of detector? I suspect that I might find a greater **percentage variation in flux over the TEC range**--the difference between the flux at TEC maximum and minimum, divided by the average flux--in equatorial detectors than in polar detectors, on the assumption that changes in TEC might impact the arrival rate of negatively charged muons at the detectors. My initial hypothesis is that the higher the concentration of electrons in the atmosphere, the smaller the muon flux, since electrons and muons are similarly charged and hence mutually repulsive. If that hypothesis were true, then since TEC variation seems to change with latitude (as I can see from the TEC visual representation in Google Earth), then cosmic ray flux variation should change with latitude, also. (I can see which CR detectors cover a range of latitudes using the Google Earth CRD position map, and I can determine flux variation and average for those detectors using the CR e-Lab.)

"To test this, I'll take six detectors at six different latitudes. I'll try to find the daily maximum and minimum TECs over each detector, and then graph the latitude vs percent variation in flux at the times of these TEC maxima and minima. I expect to be able to fit a curve to the data which has a positive slope, as the x axis changes from polar to equatorial latitudes, and the y axis changes from zero percent variation in flux at times of TEC extrema, to greater variation."

(Since TEC data are not yet archived, and since CRD data aren't typically uploaded on a reliable daily basis, I can save screen grabs of visual TEC data represented in Google Earth, and then several days later consult the CRD data in the e-Lab.)

Here are my six chosen detectors:

Here are my TEC plots for each of my six chosen detectors.

Here's a table of TEC high, low, variation, high and low times (in UTC), CR flux at those same times, average daily flux, % variation in flux, detector latitude (all done in Excel):

Here's my plot of % variation in flux over the TEC range vs detector latitude

Here's what I see in the data (discussion):

Here's how confident I am in my conclusion:

Here's what I could go on to do next:

//Questions? Comments? Please use the discussion feature in the tab above.//