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The Cosmic Radiation Near Earth

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Cosmogenic Radionuclides

Part of the book series: Physics of Earth and Space Environments ((EARTH))

Abstract

The half-lives of the cosmogenic radionuclides are very short compared to the age of the Earth, and none would now exist on Earth without their continuous production through the interaction of cosmic rays with the atmosphere. Seventy-five years of instrumental observations have shown that the intensity of ~3 GeV cosmic rays changes by ≥20% over time scales of ~10 years, superimposed upon longer term changes that are not well defined in the instrumental record (see Chaps. 6 and 7). The geomagnetic field has a strong screening effect upon the cosmic radiation as well and, as a consequence the production rates of the cosmogenic radionuclides near the equator are approximately 10% of those in the polar caps. This screening effect is strongly influenced by the strength and configuration of the geomagnetic field, which also changes greatly over time. Any study of the cosmogenic radionuclides, or their utilization for scientific or practical purposes therefore demands an understanding of the properties of the cosmic radiation itself and the screening imposed by the geomagnetic field.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eawag, Überlandstr. 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Jürg Beer

  2. IPST, University of Maryland, USA, Jellore Lane, 2575, High Range, NSW, Australia

    Ken McCracken

  3. International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Rudolf von Steiger

Authors
  1. Jürg Beer
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  2. Ken McCracken
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  3. Rudolf von Steiger
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Correspondence to Jürg Beer .

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Beer, J., McCracken, K., von Steiger, R. (2012). The Cosmic Radiation Near Earth. In: Cosmogenic Radionuclides. Physics of Earth and Space Environments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14651-0_5

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