The onset of long term modulation in the heliosphere in cycle 23

The combination of Voyager 1 (77.9 AU, 34.4 degrees N) and Voyager 2 (61.2 AU, 24.5 degrees S) at moderate heliolatitudes in the distant heliosphere a nd Ulysses with its unique latitudinal surveys in the inner heliosphere alo ng with IMP 8 and other satellites at 1 AU constitutes a network of observa tories that are ideally suited to study cosmic rays over the solar minimum of cycle 22 and the onset of solar activity and the long term cosmic ray mo dulation of cycle 23. Through 2000.7 there have been three well-defined ste p decreases in the cosmic ray intensity at 1 AU with the cumulative effect being in good agreement with the net decrease in cycle 21 at a comparable t ime in the solar cycle. Over this period the intensity changes at Ulysses a re similar to those at 1 AU. In the distant heliosphere the initial decreas es appear to be smaller than those at 1 AU. However the full effects of the interplanetary disturbances producing the most recent and largest step dec rease in the inner heliosphere have not yet reached V-2.