Tritium

From Glossary of Meteorology



tritium

A radioactive isotope of hydrogen, symbol H3 or T, with a half-life of about 12 years.

Tritium is formed by cosmic rays at levels near the tropopause and diffuses slowly into the lower atmosphere. It is also deposited in the atmosphere by nuclear detonations. Its radioactivity and relatively short half-life make it useful in certain geochronologic studies.


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