Abstract Summary/Description
The gLOWCOST (global low-cost cosmic detector network) developed with support from the RISE initiative, aims to better understand the Earth’s terrestrial and space weather by deploying a low-cost portable cosmic ray detector network worldwide. High energy particles originating from outer galactic space or our sun, interact with the Earth’s atmosphere causing various particles to shower towards the Earth’s surface. Out of these, muons can be detected easily at the surface of the Earth. Since these muon particles carry information about the conditions of the atmosphere it has passed through and about outer space where they originated from, a model for both terrestrial and space weather can be built if there is enough information about the cosmic flux from all around the world. Because of this exciting idea, scientists have already collaborated with the cosmic ray research group at GSU to deploy the detectors in six countries around the world. With the current detector network, we were able to see the detector’s sensitivity to space weather phenomena such as Geomagnetic storms and also,terrestrial weather phenomena such as hurricanes. We are working towards the goal of developing the detector network by addressing the challenges encountered in expanding the network,analyzing data from the current detectors to build models to better understand these terrestrial and space weather phenomena, and using the detector as a tool of STEM education to popularize and engage students in the field of cosmic ray science which will be highly valuable with emerging outer space activities of mankind.
