Tritium and deuterium in atmospheric hydrogen

Abstract

After correcting the tritium content of atmospheric molecular hydrogen samples for contamination by industrial hydrogen, the increases in the tritium content of atmospheric hydrogen over the past ten years are discussed. It is found that the increases in the tritium concentration occur in steps about 2 to 2.5 years after major thermonuclear test series. It is concluded that most of the HT formed by thermonuclear explosions is injected into upper stratospheric levels and subsequently follows the mixing pattern observed for the high altitude tracer rhodium-102. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1966.tb00233.x