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DOE OSTI · 2202940

Observational Study Reveals Inverse Relationship: Rising PM2.5 Concentrations Linked to Decreasing Muon Flux

Mattur, Yashas·Coonradt, Jensen
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Abstract

Muon flux, the rate of muons reaching Earth from the atmosphere, is impacted by various factors such as air pressure, temperature, and humidity. However, the influence of concentrations of PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameters 2.5 mm or smaller) on muon detection rates remains unexplored. During the summer of 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires (containing significant amounts of particulate matter) blew over regions in the Northern US, introducing huge fluctuations in PM2.5 concentrations, thus inspiring this experiment to investigate the correlation of PM2.5 concentrations and muon rates. To investigate the correlation, muon collision rates were measured and analyzed alongside PM2.5 concentration data over the periods of both light and heavy smoke. Other confounding variables, including temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, were also considered. The results reveal a statistically significant inverse correlation between muon flux and PM2.5 concentrations, indicating that particulate matter has an impact on the rate of muons reaching the earth’s surface.

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Mattur, Yashas, Coonradt, Jensen. 2023-10-13. Observational Study Reveals Inverse Relationship: Rising PM2.5 Concentrations Linked to Decreasing Muon Flux. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2202940

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