Influence of climatic factors on the past atmospheric content of the C-14 isotope

Reconstructions of solar activity in the past epochs based on information on the past atmospheric content of the cosmogenic ¹⁴C isotope are nowadays actively discussed. The ¹⁴C isotope is generated in the atmosphere of the Earth under the influence of cosmic rays, and its concentration in annual tree rings carries information on the past solar activity. However, the concentration of this isotope in annual tree rings may also be influenced by climatic factors. In the present work, the possible correlation between variations in the ¹⁴C atmospheric content and in the Earth’s global temperature from the late 14th century to the middle of the 19th century is studied. It is shown that variations in global temperature may produce changes in the ¹⁴C atmospheric content and consequently have to be taken into account in reconstructions of the past solar activity.