INTERPRETATION AND CONSEQUENCES OF LARGE-SCALE MAGNETIC VARIANCES OBSERVED AT HIGH HELIOGRAPHIC LATITUDE

We consider recent Ulysses Observations of the large-scale variances i n the transverse components of the interplanetary magnetic field. A pr eviously-suggested theory is shown to provide a good fit to the observ ed spatial variation and level of the fluctuations. The transport of c osmic rays in the heliosphere will be significantly affected by these fluctuations. In addition to impeding the inward, radial diffusive and drift, access of cosmic rays over the poles, the magnetic fluctuation s imply a large latitudinal diffusion, caused primarily by the field-l ine mixing, or random walk.