Correlation of cosmic-ray intensity and solar activity

The present International Geophysical Year was chosen to include the most likely period of maximum activity of the sun. It is probably too early to tell whether or not the maximum of the current cycle has yet been reached, but it is already certain that the yearly average of the Zurich sunspot numbers for 1957 is much higher than ever before observed.(1) It is therefore of interest to see what has been the effect on cosmic rays.