Abstract
Forbush decrease (FD) events recorded at the ground-based neutron monitors (NMs) during the period 1961 - 1999, have been selected and recovery characteristic of these events have been analyzed. The average profile of FDs observed during different polarity states of the heliosphere is obtained by superposed epoch analysis separately for the periods 1961 - 1969 (A < 0), 1971 - 1979 (A > 0), 1981 - 1989 (A < 0) and 1991 - 1999 (A > 0). Hourly count rate of neutron monitors of different cut-off rigidities have been utilized. The results are compared with model predictions including drifts. No marked difference is observed in the amplitudes of FDs during A < 0 and A > 0. Rigidity spectrum fitted with a power law yields the values of spectral exponent that are closer to values predicted by two-dimensional models including drifts. The recovery rate of FDs varies with the polarity of HMF and the rate is higher (recovery time smaller) during A > 0 than during A < 0 epoch, consistent with the model predictions including the drift effects in the HMF. This difference in recovery time of FDs during A > 0 and A < 0 polarity conditions provides experimental evidence that drift plays an important role in cosmic ray modulation.