The production of tritons and C¹⁴in the terrestrial atmosphere by solar protons

Recently Begemann [1959] has confirmed the results of Craig [1957] and Begemann and Libby [1957] that the natural production rate of tritons is greater than might be expected from production by the cosmic-ray flux in the atmosphere. Two mechanisms have been considered to explain this discrepancy: (a) accretion of solar-produced tritons by the earth, as suggested by B. Feld and J. Arnold; and (b) additional production by the low-energy component of the cosmic radiation at times of minimum solar activity. The integrated flux of primary cosmic-ray particles varies with solar activity, and by a factor of 2 to 4 during a solar-activity cycle. The purpose of this note is to point out a third source, namely, intense fluxes of eneretic solar protons which could produce tritons and C14 in the terrestrial atmosphere at times near the maximum of the solar-activity cycle.