"There's this reaction that occurs and a byproduct is these new cosmogenic nuclides that form in the rock. The longer that rock is exposed to the atmosphere, the more and more of these nuclides will form," said Nicolás Young, a paleoclimatologist at the Columbia Climate School. Nuclides cannot be formed without direct exposure to the atmosphere. Once ice retreats and uncovers bedrock, the 'cosmogenic clock' begins, allowing the nuclides to accumulate."
"When glaciers retreat, the bedrock beneath them becomes exposed to neutrons. This interaction with cosmic rays leads to the production of these cosmogenic nuclides that can be measured to date the exposure of the rock," Young explained. This information is crucial for understanding historical glacier extents and evaluating current glacier conditions against the past."
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