Cosmic ray modulation in the current 24th solar cycle from the measurements in the atmosphere

Experimental data on cosmic ray fluxes measured in the stratosphere of polar and middle latitudes and their consistency with the heliospheric magnetic field strength and the solar wind velocity are discussed. During the last solar minimum the highest cosmic ray fluxes in the atmosphere were observed in 2009-2010. After prolonged solar minimum between the cycles of 23 and 24 the heliospheric magnetic field and the solar wind velocity recovered more slowly as compared with the values in the previous solar minima and remained substantially reduced in 2009-2012. As a result the cosmic ray fluxes are at present significantly higher than fluxes in the similar phases of previous solar activity cycles. The possible reasons of the existence of the long-term high fluxes of cosmic rays are discussed.