Atmospheric 81Kr as an integrator of cosmic-ray flux on the hundred-thousand-year timescale

Zappala, J. C.; Baggenstos, D.; Gerber, C.; Jiang, W.; Kennedy, B. M.; Lu, Z.-T.; Masarik, J.; Mueller, P.; Purtschert, R.; Visser, A. (2020). Atmospheric 81Kr as an integrator of cosmic-ray flux on the hundred-thousand-year timescale. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(3) American Geophysical Union 10.1029/2019GL086381

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The atmospheric abundance of 81Kr is a global integrator of cosmic rays. It is insensitive to climate shifts, geographical variations, and short-term solar cycle activity, making it an ideal standard to test models of cosmic-ray flux on the time scale of 105 years. Here we present the first calculation of absolute 81Kr production rates in the atmosphere, and a measurement of the atmospheric 81Kr/Kr abundance via the Atom Trap Trace Analysis method. The measurement result significantly deviates from previously reported values. The agreement between measurement and model prediction supports the current understanding of the production mechanisms. Additionally, the calculated 81Kr atmospheric inventory over the past 1.5 Myr provides a more accurate input function for radiokrypton dating.

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