Cosmogenic nuclide analysis

Cosmogenic nuclides can be used to directly determine the timing of events and rates of change in the Earth’s surface by measuring their production due to cosmic ray-induced reactions in rocks and sediment. The technique has been widely adopted by the geomorphological community because it can be used on a wide range of landforms across an age range spanning hundreds to millions of years. Consequently, it has been used to successfully analyse exposure and burial events; rates of erosion, denudation and uplift; soil dynamics; and palaeo-altimetric change. This paper offers a brief outline of the theory and application of the technique and necessary considerations when using it.