First Observations of Cosmic Ray Neutrons by a Mini Neutron Monitor at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In April 2017, a mini neutron monitor (NM) was installed at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) central Saudi Arabia (Riyadh;cut-off rigidity, Rc = 14.4 Gv) for continuous observation of the cosmic ray (CR) neutrons. The detector was built as a major aspect of the international scientific joint effort between the Centre of Space Research (North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa) and KACST. The recorded data correspond to low energy neutrons that primarily have energies lower than 20 GeV. In this paper, a brief description about the mini NM detector will be given. The influence of atmospheric pressure on the recorded CR neutrons was studied and the barometric coefficient was calculated and used to eliminate the pressure effects from the measured data. The obtained coefficient was consistent with those previously obtained by several investigators. The daily variation of the CR neutron was studied and characterized. Short-term CR periodicities, such as the 27-day period, and its two harmonics, were identified. The obtained periodicities are in agreement with those reported by different researchers. The obtained results from this detector have been compared to the existing 1 m2 scintillator detector showing comparable results. Long-term data from this detector will be of incredible significance to the research community to investigate several types of CR variations resulting from solar activity at such high cut off rigidity site.

Possible Association between Space Weather Variables, and the World’s COVID-19 Cases

This study aims to investigate the influential role of space weather parameters on the transmission of COVID-19. Solar radio flux, interplanetary magnetic field, Dst index, sunspot number, and solar wind speed were utilized to represent the space weather variables. The association of the considered variables to the number of the confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide along with five geographical categories, i.e. Asia, Europe, Africa, South, and North America, were investigated for a period ranging from 20 January 2020 to 5 August 2021 using Pearson linear tests as well as the non-parametric Spearman’s and Kendall’s rank correlation tests. Pearson linear tests showed that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide and the chosen geographical categories have a significant correlation to interplanetary magnetic strength, solar radio flux F10.7, and sunspot number. When the confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the Asia continent were excluded, the solar wind speed correlated significantly with the number of COVID-19 cases reported elsewhere in the world and the other geographical categories. The non-parametric Kendall and Pearson tests showed that the world’s COVID-19 cases and the other geographical categories had significant correlations with the interplanetary magnetic field, radio flux F10.7, sunspot number, and the solar wind speed, but not with the Dst index.

Correlation Analyses between Ultraviolet Radiation, Global Solar Radiation, and Metrological Variables and the COVID-19 Cases in Arid Climate

The transmission of infectious diseases is influenced by several meteorological factors. In this study, the influence of several such factors in the transmission of COVID-19 (from 26 March 2020 to 29 July 2021) in the arid weather of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was investigated using the Spearman and Kendall rank tests. The factors considered were the average, maximum, and minimum values of air temperatures, air pressure, wind speed, relative humidity, absolute humidity, dew point temperatures, and the average values of the global solar radiation and ultraviolet radiation at bands A and B. The data on meteorological factors were obtained from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) weather station, whereas the data on the daily COVID-19 cases were obtained from the official webpage of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH). The results revealed that air temperature (average, minimum, and maximum) average and maximum wind speed, maximum dew point temperature, global solar radiation, and ultraviolet radiation at A and B bands are positively associated with the daily number of COVID-19 cases reported in Riyadh. However, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure (averages, minimum, and maximum) is anti-correlated with the number of daily COVID-19 cases, while absolute humidity exerts no influence. These results are in total agreement with some of the previously established studies and are either contradicted partly or totally with others conducted at several locations around the world. The results could help not only epidemiologists understand the behavior of COVID-19 against meteorological variables but also national and international organizations and healthcare policymakers devise control strategies to combat the virus.

The Possible Relationship between the Atmospheric Electric Field and High Energy Charged Particles and the COVID-19 Cases in the Central Arabian Peninsula

Background: Since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have been carried out to investigate its spread, with a wide range of factors to understand the influence of the factors that contribute to its spread and to reduce the ongoing threat of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this study, the relationships between the Earth’s electric field and cosmic ray charged particles of different energy ranges and the daily confirmed COVID-19 infections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia have been investigated using non-parametric statistical tests. The data covered the period between 3 April 2020 and 1st August 2021 and were obtained from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) CARPET detector, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The electric fields data were obtained from electric field monitor (EFM) deployed on the rooftop of the KACST laboratory. The data of the daily COVID-19 cases were obtained from the official webpage of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH). Results: The results revealed that that the number of COVID-19 cases is correlated with cosmic ray charged particles and anti-correlated with the Earth’s electric field. Conclusion: While the exact mechanism explaining the influence of Earth’s electric field and cosmic rays variations on the reported number of COVID-19 cases is not yet established, the results presented in this study can add additional knowledge to our understanding of the effects of additional factors on influenza activities.

On the Relationship between Meteorological Variables, Dst Index, Solar Wind Speed, Solar Radio Flux, and Cosmic Rays and COVID-19 Cases

This study aims to determine the influential role of the meteorological, solar, and geophysical factors and cosmic rays on the transmission of COVID-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meteorological factors were air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. The solar radio flux, Dst index, and solar wind speed were utilized as representatives of the solar and geophysical variables. The association between these variables and the COVID-19 pandemic cases from 3 April 2020 to 1 August 2021 was investigated using the Spearman and Kendall rank correlation tests. The obtained results showed that the air temperature and average wind speed are positively associated with the daily number of reported COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, the mean values of relative humidity and atmospheric pressure are inversely correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases in Riyadh. Moreover, the results showed that the Dst index and cosmic rays are positively correlated with the COVID-19 cases. Contrarily, solar wind speed and radio flux at 10.7 cm have negative correlations with the COVID-19 cases. The obtained results will help the epidemiologists to understand the behavior of the virus against meteorological, solar, and geophysical variables and can be considered as a useful supplement to help national and international organizations and healthcare policymakers in the process of strategizing to combat COVID-19.