On the Use of Cosmic Ray Produced Isotopes for Studying Large Scale Circulations in the Atmosphere

Abstract

This chapter discusses the measurements of ozone and water-vapor concentrations, which have proved very valuable for establishing certain features of large scale atmospheric circulation; it is still difficult to get a complete picture of vertical and horizontal air motions from such measurements, in spite of the fact that more detailed data on ozone distribution have become available in recent years. This chapter also presents various radio-active isotopes produced by cosmic radiation that can serve as useful labels for tracing the motion of air masses. The isotopes in question belong to the elements beryllium, phosphorus, and sulfur, and result from nuclear disruptions of atmospheric constituents by cosmic ray particles. Like ozone, these isotopes are produced primarily, though not exclusively, in the upper layers of the atmosphere. However, in contrast to ozone, their production is independent of time; it does not fall during the night and has no seasonal component. It differs from ozone also in that their production increases rather than decreases with latitude and is about five times larger near the poles than at the equator.