John W. Bieber, Paul Evenson (both at: Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware)

Relativistic cosmic rays observed by neutron monitors displayed unusual activity during and prior to the interaction of the January 1997 CME/Magnetic Cloud with Earth. For instance, the monitor in Newark, Delaware recorded enhanced diurnal waves beginning January 8 and culminating in an unusually large wave on January 10. The monitor in McMurdo, Antarctica recorded a sudden increase in count rate 9 hours before the CME shock was observed by the WIND spacecraft. We will discuss physical origins of these phenomena, as well as their potential use in space weather forecasting.

The Bartol Research Institute neutron monitor network is supported by NSF grants OPP--9528122, ATM--9314683, and OPP--9424005.