Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T12:44:56.807Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Variations in Radiocarbon Production in the Earth's Atmosphere

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Serge A Korff
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003
Rosalind B Mendell
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We have investigated solar phenomena associated with unusual changes in the production rates of 14C in the atmosphere. 14C is produced in interactions of cosmic ray neutrons with nitrogen in the atmosphere. Intensity of the neutrons varies globally and fluctuates with time as a result of interactions of galactic cosmic rays which generate neutrons with plasma and magnetic fields of the solar wind. We estimate the total mean production rate of 14C for solar cycle 20, specifically 1965 to 1975, to be 2.25 ± 0.1 nuclei-cm−2sec−1 from galactic cosmic rays alone, with negligible integrated contribution from solar particle events. Annual averages of Rz, the Zurich sunspot number, and the production rate of 14C, n(14C), were related by n(14C) = 2.60–5.53 × 10–3 Rz ± 3 percent. The contribution of solar flare particles and the zero sunspot limit are discussed with relation to major fluctuations that appear in the radiocarbon versus dendrochronology over short (∼100 years) integration times.

Type
Natural 14C Variations
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Damon, P E, 1977, Solar induced variations of energetic particles at 1 AU, in White, O R, ed, The solar output and its variation: Boulder, Colo., Colorado Assoc Univ Press, p 429445.Google Scholar
Eddy, J A, 1976, The Maunder Minimum: Science, v 192, p 11891201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eddy, J A, Gilman, P A, and Trotter, D E, 1976, Solar rotation during the Maunder Minimum: Solar Physics, v 46, p 314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Korff, S A, Mendell, R B, Merker, M, Light, E S, Verschell, H J, and Sandie, W, 1979, Atmospheric neutrons: NASA contractor's rept, 3126, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Light, E S, Merker, M, Verschell, H J, Mendell, R B, and Korff, S A, 1973, Time dependent worldwide distribution of atmospheric neutrons and their products, 2, Calculation: Jour Geophys Research, v 78, p 27412762.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lingenfelter, R E and Ramaty, R, 1970, Astrophysical and geophysical variations in 14C production, in Olsson, I U, ed, Radiocarbon variations and absolute chronology, Nobel symposium, 12th, Proc: New York, John Wiley and Sons, p 513537.Google Scholar
Mendell, R B, Verschell, H J, Merker, M, Light, E S, and Korff, S A, 1973, Time dependent worldwide distribution of atmospheric neutrons and their products. 3. Neutrons from solar protons: Jour Geophys Research, v 78, p 27632778.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ralph, E K, Michael, H N, and Han, M C, 1973, Radiocarbon dates and reality: MASCA Newsletter, v 9, no. 1, p 120.Google Scholar