An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A decrease in the Galactic cosmic flux around sunspot maximum as a consequence of Solar flare activity. When sunspots explode, they often hurl massive clouds of hot gas away from the Sun, a phenomenon called → coronal mass ejections (CME). The CMEs contain not only gas but also magnetic fields. So when a CME sweeps past Earth, it also sweeps away many of the electrically-charged cosmic rays.

Etymology (EN): After Scott E. Forbush, American physicist who studied cosmic rays in the 1930s and 40s; → effect; decrease, from O.Fr. stem of descreistre, from L. decrescere, from → de- “away from”

• crescere “to grow.”

Etymology (PE): Kâheš, verbal noun of kâstan, kâhidan “to decrease,” from Mid.Pers. kâhitan, kâstan, kâhênitan “to decrease, diminish, lessen;” Av. kasu- “small, little” (Mod.Pers. keh), Proto-Iranian *kas- “to be small, diminish, lessen.”