by Jill Sakai, University of Wisconsin
Though still under construction, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole is already delivering scientific results — including an early finding about a phenomenon the telescope was not even designed to study.
- This “skymap,” generated in 2009 from data collected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, shows the relative intensity of cosmic rays directed toward the Earth’s Southern Hemisphere. Researchers from UW-Madison and elsewhere identified an unusual pattern of cosmic rays, with an excess (warmer colors) detected in one part of the sky and a deficit (cooler colors) in another.
IceCube captures signals of notoriously elusive but scientifically fascinating subatomic particles called neutrinos. The telescope focuses on high-energy neutrinos that travel through the Earth, providing information about faraway cosmic events such as supernovas and black holes in the part of space visible from the Northern Hemisphere.
However, one of the challenges of detecting these relatively rare particles is that the telescope is constantly bombarded by other particles, including many generated by cosmic rays interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere over the southern half of the sky. For most IceCube neutrino physicists these particles are simply background noise, but University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers Rasha Abbasi and Paolo Desiati, with collaborator Juan Carlos Díaz-Vélez, recognized an opportunity in the cosmic ray data.
“IceCube was not built to look at cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are considered background,” Abbasi says. “However, we have billions of events of background downward cosmic rays that ended up being very exciting.”
Abbasi saw an unusual pattern when she looked at a “skymap” of the relative intensity of cosmic rays directed toward the Earth’s Southern Hemisphere, with an excess of cosmic rays detected in one part of the sky and a deficit in another. A similar lopsidedness, called “anisotropy,” has been seen from the Northern Hemisphere by previous experiments, she says, but its source is still a mystery.
“At the beginning, we didn’t know what to expect. To see this anisotropy extending to the Southern Hemisphere sky is an additional piece of the puzzle around this enigmatic effect — whether it’s due to the magnetic field surrounding us or to the effect of a nearby supernova remnant, we don’t know,” Abbasi says.
The new result publishes Aug. 1 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, published by the American Astronomical Society.
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Hmmm. The article would be more elucidating if it talked about which parts of the sky corresponded to the influx excess/deficit.
Of course to be noted that they are talking of very large energies, TeV., that show this anisotropy. It would be interesting, with regard to Svensmark’s hypothesis, to see whether cloud cover correlates with this anisotropy.
These very high energy original cosmics interacting with the atmosphere produce the cosmic ray flux measured by the neutron monitors etc. It should also affect the spectra coming from the spread over the world neutron monitors, showing a geographic anisotropy in the magnitudes.
Oh look – a new word – anisotropy.
And real science with a statement only a true scientist would make — “we don’t know.” This is what makes learning fun, unlike the dogmatic dictates of climate science.
anna v,
If it was cloud cover they would hardly be able to construct a stable skymap.
Anna V says “It would be interesting, with regard to Svensmark’s hypothesis, to see whether cloud cover correlates with this anisotropy. ”
I think the rotation of the earth once every 24hours will smear out any effect from this cosmic anisotropy
But, Leif told us only last week that cosmic rays were isotropic to a very high degree.
These scientists must be wrong. 🙂
It would be nice if someone looked for correlations between Solar wind and Cosmic ray flux.
tallbloke says: “But, Leif told us only last week that cosmic rays were isotropic to a very high degree. These scientists must be wrong. :-)”
Well, we don’t know what the difference was between the high and low levels. They might be very close together, which would make Leif right.
Now isn’t this interesting. Hmmm.
We have known for a long time that the cosmic ray flux is not static. The Be-11 proxy has some very high spikes over the past 100,000 years from the ice core data.
It would be helpful to correlate the uneven cosmic ray distribution with changes in cloud cover but not necessarily definitive because both could be consequences of the same seperate cause.
For example, more cosmic rays during a period of less active sun could appear to correlate well with solar induced changes in the temperatures of the upper atmosphere but both would be seperate consequences of solar variations with no necessity for cosmic rays to affect tempersatures or vice versa.
For my part I suspect that solar variability does affect the upward energy fluxes through the various layers of the atmosphere and thereby affects air pressure distribution in the troposphere but I am doubtful that the effect of cosmic ray variability is significant compared to that effect of solar variability.
Although I support Svensmark’s ideas generally I think they may fall at that hurdle.
[EDIT: Particularly given that the map given is a skymap, not a ground map. The Earth will rotate under that sky, so the hot spots will merely create latitudinal bands of variation… – Mike]
Presumably the skymap is made up of snapshots every 24h
Leon Brozyna says: ”’And real science with a statement only a true scientist would make — “we don’t know.” This is what makes learning fun, unlike the dogmatic dictates of climate science.”’
Yes!
This is another dimension to the complexities that govern the health and climate of our third rock from the sun. The installation of these detectors at this time is far from serendipity. Recently released photos of galaxies show huge energies flowing from the galactic equators. Some halos and discharges make the galaxies look small. Our solar system is due in 2012 to transit the galactic equator. This happens ever twenty five thousand years, give or take. These erstwhile scientists are preparing for this event, every fourth crossing triggers an ice age. Our insignificant little solar system is on the outer of our galaxy and not really a part of it, but follows a sine wave pattern around the outer edge, unattached so to speak. The next few years may be quite eventful, in both weather and seismic stability, volcanoes may be a real problem, not just for the alarmists but our continued good fortune and health. I feel the coming transit will be a watershed, a wake up call to reality , the gore effect squared. I am hoping I am wrong, and warming is real.
Think of cosmic rays as moving electrically charged particles, and then work out what to call them. Some of us call such things electricity.
Sounds similar to the axis of evil from the WMAP survey. Generally attributed to the headlong rush of all around these parts towards the Virgo super-cluster.
“Our solar system is due in 2012 to transit the galactic equator. This happens ever twenty five thousand years, give or take. ”
No, we are currently heading in a Northerly direction (Galactically speaking) of oscillation having passed through the Galactic plane some 3 million years ago. Next transit due 30,002,012AD, give or take.
John.
It reminds me of the IPCC phrase that “CO2 is a LLGHG and well mixed” [pdf] while NASA more recently discovered that it was “lumpy.” This is why climate science is not settled and don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise. Too many assumptions are made for my liking.
About other (Artic) ice: these Danish scientists looking for Eemian traces hit bedrock at 2537m last 27 July 2010. They write: “The Eemian is the last interglacial period, when climate was warmer than today, and sea level 5 meters higher, and is our best analogue for future climate. ” http://www.isogklima.nbi.ku.dk/nyhedsfolder/uk_with_dk_companion/bedrock_2010-07-27/
By the way most research considers Co2 to be less long-lived than the IPCC assumes. See here, here and here..
tallbloke says: July 30, 2010 at 10:51 pm
But, Leif told us only last week that cosmic rays were isotropic to a very high degree.
These scientists must be wrong. 🙂
Indeed. Alternatively it may confirm my hypothesis that the ‘solar output – planetary magnetospheres’ feedback is a function of the heliocentric longitude. In addition would explain such maters as the ’~60 year’ cycles, since the two largest magnetospheres meet at the same heliocentric longitude at approx 60 year intervals.
There’s a tendency to think physics and cosmology are all wrapped up (complete) and there’s nothing left but to fill in some details.
Hubris.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Hamlet, Act I Scene V
@wayne Job says:
July 31, 2010 at 1:38 am
“Our solar system is due in 2012 to transit the galactic equator.”
That is just spin from the new-age bishops of the mayan calendar, it is to do with the winter solstice lining up with the galactic equator, it is closest in 2049, and it means nothing! (less than 1 degree to go! hold on tight!! anyone scared of polar reversal can purchase a safe ride in rent-a-Merkaba, $777 in advance)
Well,to me this picture looks like they have finally found scientific evidence for the Big Bang insofar, as the red – hot – area may show the direction to the center of the Universe i.e. the point, where the Big Bang actually happened – while the blue, cold area looks just the other way, i.e. away from the center of the Universe.
This srongly complies with my own, personal theory of the Universe, which includes plain and logical explanations for Dark Matter as well as for Dark Energy.
No, it doesn’t violate Einstein’s E=MC2, either – but it nontheless allows travels above the speed of light – essentially, matter travelling above the speed of light is, in fact, the core of my theory.
But, of course, nobody would listen to me, like always… “SIGH!”
“Well,to me this picture looks like they have finally found scientific evidence for the Big Bang insofar, as the red – hot – area may show the direction to the center of the Universe i.e. the point, where the Big Bang actually happened – while the blue, cold area looks just the other way, i.e. away from the center of the Universe.”
Singularities don’t have centres. Now everyone and I mean everyone, you too ET, hold up your right index finger and look at the very tip. That is where the big bang occurred.
John.