Atmospheric influence on space-based observation of high-energy cosmic rays

High-energy extensive air showers developing in the Earth's atmosphere emit faint UV light that can be detected from space. The impact of varying atmospheric conditions on light emission and transmission has been studied in detail for the space-borne ultra high-energy cosmic ray observatory JEM-EUSO. By these studies, the importance of atmospheric scattering and reflection from ground on the fraction of Cherenkov light as well as fluorescence light received by JEM-EUSO is pointed out. For any telescope measuring UV light from an altitude higher than 40 km, the attenuating influence of the ozone layer cannot be disregarded. Based upon air shower simulation, quantitative numbers of ozone attenuation will be presented. (paper)