Geochronology using in situ produced cosmogenic nuclides, a versatile toolkit for the quantification of landscape evolution. Part 2: Applications

Abstract

In situ produced cosmogenic-nuclide data play a key role in constraining the timing and rates of Pliocene and Quaternary glacial, fluvial, and aeolian landscape evolution. Correct interpretation and effective use of these data in research require a solid basis of the method’s theory and applications. The first part of this two-part review introduced the theoretical background. This second part presents the principal applications of the method, outlining the procedures for determining exposure age, burial age, and denudation rate. It discusses single- and multi-nuclide approaches with particular emphasis on the most widely used isotope-pair of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al. The study also addresses sources of uncertainty and examines the limits of applicability. In addition, it covers practical considerations that can aid in selecting the most appropriate approach for specific research questions in different geological and geomorphological settings.