Cosmogenic radionuclides : theory and applications in the terrestrial and space environments /
Jürg Beer, Ken McCracken, Rudolf von Steiger.
- Heidelberg [Germany] ; New York : Springer, c2012.
- xvi, 426 p. : ill. (some col.) ;
- Physics of earth and space environments .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction: Motivation ; Goals -- Cosmic radiation: The cosmic radiation near earth ; Instrumental measurements of the cosmic radiation ; Time variations of the cosmic radiation ; The solar cosmic radiation -- Cosmogenic radionuclides: Production of cosmogenic radionuclides in the atmosphere ; Production of cosmogenic radionuclides in other environmental systems ; Alternative production mchanisms ; Transport and deposition ; Archives ; Detection -- Applications: Solar physics ; Galactic astronomy ; Atmosphere ; Hydrosphere ; Geosphere ; Biosphere ; Dating.
Cosmogenic radionuclides are radioactive isotopes which are produced by natural processes and distributed within the Earth system. With a holistic view of the environment the authors show in this book how cosmogenic radionuclides can be used to trace and to reconstruct the history of a large variety of processes. They discuss the way in which cosmogenic radionuclides can assist in the quantification of complex processes in the present-day environment. This book aims to demonstrate to the reader the strength of analytic tools based on cosmogenic radionuclides, their contribution to almost any field of modern science, and how these tools may assist in the solution of many present and future problems that we face here on earth"--Back cover.