Cosmic rays near the heliospheric current sheet

We present a discussion of full, three‐dimensional model simulations of the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays, including drift. Our particular emphasis is on the variation of the cosmic‐ray intensity near the heliospheric current sheet. We show that the model quite naturally produces a negative gradient away from a wavy current sheet as seen by an observer on the Earth. We conclude that recent observations of Newkirk and Lockwood are not in conflict with these model results, and hence are consistent with modulation models in which drift plays an important role.