Solar modulation of low energy galactic cosmic rays in the near-earth space environment

This is an overview of the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays as seen from the Earth and spacecrafts closeby, where we have put the contributions of Latin-American researchers in the global context in the last five to ten years. It is a broad topic with numerous intriguing aspects so that a research framework has to be chosen to concentrate on, therefore we have put our emphasis on measurements of the cosmic ray flux, without attempting to review all details or every contribution made in this field of research. In consequence, after establishing the basic characteristics of the cosmic radiation such as composition and energy spectrum, we focus on a few selected subjects, almost all within the framework of solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays such as Forbush decreases, periodic variations, space and atmospheric weather cosmic ray relationships, to which we add a general description of ground level enhancement observations. Controversial aspects are discussed where the appropriate results are presented, some of the challenges and prospects of key issues are also pointed out. At the end of the paper, a brief summary of the last decade Latin-American contributions to the subjects treated is given.