Kseniia Golubenko

Development of Models for the Cosmogenic Isotopes Transport in the Earth's Atmosphere

My research focuses on the development of global models that describe the production, transport, and deposition of cosmogenic isotopes - such as beryllium-10, carbon-14, and chlorine-36 - in the Earth's atmosphere. These isotopes are formed through interactions between cosmic rays and atmospheric constituents, and they serve as valuable tracers in studies of solar activity, geomagnetic field variations, and climate change over millennial timescales.

A key aspect of this work involves modeling the complex transport mechanisms that govern the distribution of isotopes from their point of production in the upper atmosphere to their eventual deposition on the Earth’s surface. This includes incorporating the dynamics of stratosphere-troposphere exchange, large-scale atmospheric circulation, and processes such as wet and dry deposition. My favourite tool is the chemistry climate model SOCOL.

Current Challenges:

Spatial and Temporal Variability: Accurately capturing the spatial heterogeneity and seasonal variability of isotope production and transport remains a major challenge, especially when reconciling model outputs with observational records from ice cores, tree rings, or sediments.

Atmospheric Dynamics Integration: The integration of isotope transport into global climate models requires high-resolution data and sophisticated coupling between chemical transport models and general circulation models.

Calibration and Validation: There is an ongoing need for improved calibration of production models using neutron monitor data, satellite observations, and paleoclimate proxies. Validation across various temporal and spatial scales is critical for reliable reconstructions.

Solar and Geomagnetic Forcing: Disentangling the effects of solar variability and geomagnetic field intensity on isotope production demands accurate parameterization of cosmic ray fluxes and their modulation over time.

This research not only advances our fundamental understanding of isotope geochemistry and atmospheric science but also contributes to the development of reliable proxies for reconstructing past solar and climate variability.