  After a prolong and deep solar minimum at the end of solar cycle 23, the
current cycle 24 is one of the lowest cycles. The two periods of deep minimum
and mini-maximum of the cycle 24 are connected by a period of increasing solar
activity. In this work, the Forbush decreases of cosmic ray intensity during
the period from January 2008 to December 2014 are studied. A statistical
analysis of 749 events using the IZMIRAN database of Forbush effects obtained
by processing the data of the worldwide neutron monitor network using the
global survey method is performed. A further study of the events that happened
on the Sun and affected the interplanetary space, and finally provoked the
decreases of the galactic cosmic rays near Earth is performed. A statistical
analysis of the amplitude of the cosmic ray decreases with solar and
geomagnetic parameters is carried out. The results will be useful for space
weather studies and especially for Forbush decreases forecasting.
