Time-dependent 2D model compared with observations during the 1974 mini cycle

The 1974 mini-cycle is a medium term cosmic ray modulation event with about one year duration. It occurred in an A >0 epoch of solar magnetic polarity during conditions of low activity, but with an increase in the latitudinal extent of the heliospheric current sheet (tilt angle alpha) and the magnitude B of the heliospheric magnetic field. This cosmic ray decrease can be used to test the hypothesis that such large scale decreases (mini cycles) may be caused primarily by a combination of changes in alpha and B. For this purpose a fully time-dependent 2D model of solar modulation is used, which includes the effects of global and current sheet drifts, and anisotropic perpendicular diffusion. Such models have been used successfully to describe the proton energy spectrum as well as the radial and latitudinal gradients near 1 AU. Comparison of the model solutions with the observed decrease for 1.8 GV protons allows us to study the combined influence of variable drift and diffusion effects throughout the event.