Be-10 and Cl-36 in polar ice cores

Polar ice cores contain ¹⁰Be and ³⁶Cl atoms which are continuously produced in the atmosphere by high energy cosmic ray particles coming from space. Depending on its activity the Sun emits plasma (“solar wind”) which shields the cosmic rays and modulates the production rate of ¹⁰Be and ³⁶Cl. Combined with the information from ¹⁴C measured in tree rings these radionuclides provide unique information about the history of solar variability and solar forcing of climate changes.

Funding:

• Eawag, ETH