4. Conclusions

[13]  1. The maximum phase of solar cycle 23 in the GCR intensity terminated in 2003.7 in the inner heliosphere and is close to the end in the outer heliosphere.

[14]  2. For solar cycles 21-23 the depth in the GCR intensity modulation during the solar cycle maximum phase qualitatively corresponds to the maximum levels of the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field and of the average magnetic field energy density on the photosphere. For the length and position of this phase the behavior of the high-latitude solar magnetic fields and of the latitude range of the interplanetary magnetic field sector structure zone is also important. By the length of the maximum phase in the GCR intensity and its position with respect to the time of the solar magnetic field reversal the current solar cycle resembles solar cycle 21 and differs from cycle 22, probably reflecting one more aspect of the 22-year wave in the GCR intensity modulation.

[15]  3. After the normalization of the GCR intensity allowing for the position of the spacecraft and the 22 wave in the heliosphere the structure of the maximum phase in the GCR intensity in the current solar cycle in the outer heliosphere looks similar to that near the Earth, manifesting usual double-gap structure corresponding to the well- known double-peak structure (the Gnevyshev gap effect) in the intensity modulation. So the high bump in GCR intensity observed at Voyager 1 in 2002 probably does not have relation to the effects of the termination shock. At the same time the normalized GCR intensity in this bump at both Voyagers 1 and 2 is much less than that near the Earth. The reasons for this difference are still unclear.