Monthly cosmic-ray data from Inuvik (0.16 GV) and Climax (2.96 GV) Neu
tron Monitor stations has been studied with the aid of solar activity
parameters for the time period 1947-1995. Systematic differences in th
e overall shape of successive 11-year modulation cycles and similariti
es in the alternate 11-year cycles seem to be related to the polarity
reversals of the polar magnetic field of the Sun. This suggests a poss
ible effectiveness of the Hale cycle during even and odd solar activit
y cycles. Our results can be understood in terms of open and closed mo
dels of the heliosphere. Positive north pole of the Sun leads to open
heliosphere where particles reach the Earth more easily when their acc
ess route is by the heliospheric polar regions (even cycles) than when
they gain access along the current sheet (odd cycles). In this case a
s the route of access becomes longer due to the waviness of the neutra
l sheet, the hysteresis effect of cosmic-rays is also longer. This int
erpretation is explained in terms of different contributions of convec
tion, diffusion and drift mechanisms to the whole modulation process i
nfluencing cosmic-ray transport in the heliosphere.