Muon diagnostics of the Earth's atmosphere, near-terrestrial space and helio- sphere: first results and perspectives

Muon diagnostics is a new technique of remote monitoring of various dynamic processes in the heliosphere and in the magnetosphere and atmosphere of the Earth based on the analysis of spatial-angular and temporal variations of muon flux simultaneously detected from all directions of the upper hemisphere. For practical realization of the technique, multi-directional muon detectors (hodoscopes) with large acceptance and high angular accuracy were designed and constructed in Moscow Engineering Physics Institute. First results of data analysis show that registration of muon flux in hodoscopic mode gives unique real-time information about phenomena in the interplanetary space related with solar activity and also about processes in the Earth's atmosphere. The use of muon diagnostics for remote localization of disturbed regions in near-terrestrial space and in the Earth's atmosphere and its forecasting potential are also discussed.