Creation of radiocarbon C-14 at thunderstorms

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential for thunderstorms to produce radiocarbon (C-14) through atmospheric electric discharges, comparing it to cosmogenic production and providing a model for upper limit estimation.

Contribution

It introduces a gross model to estimate the maximum possible 14C yield from thunderstorms and presents simulation results for isotope production at altitudes up to 15 km.

Findings

Thunderstorms can produce 41Ar alongside 14C during electric discharges.

The modeled 14C yield from thunderstorms is lower than cosmogenic production.

Thunderstorm mechanisms of 14C creation are unlikely to significantly contribute compared to cosmic rays.

Abstract

The synthesis of isotopes is possible under conditions of power electric discharge in the atmosphere. Knowledge of the radioactive 14C yield under flash conditions (as additional channel of 14C production relative to the main - cosmogenic one) is important for radiocarbon analysis. It is proposed the gross model for evaluation of the upper limit of the 14C yield, which creation was simulated for the altitudes up to 15 km. It is presented the results for yield of radioactive isotope 41Ar which synthesis goes along with 14C creation under thunderstorm conditions. It was obtained that the possible thunderstorm mechanisms of 14C creation cannot compete with cosmogenic production.