A practical tool for examining paleoerosion rates from sedimentary deposits using cosmogenic radionuclides: Examples from hypothetical scenarios and data

We provide a Matlab^TM-based algorithm that calculates paleoerosion rates based on measured Cosmogenic Radionuclide (CRN) concentrations from sedimentary deposits and additional geological constraints provided by the user. Based on the input data, the algorithm models CRN concentrations accumulated due to sediment burial and the subsequent exhumation of these deposits. Description of the methods and applications of the algorithm are provided, which includes single or coupled CRNs (i.e., ¹⁰Be or ¹⁰Be + ²⁶Al). Results from the literature are reproduced. Further applicability of this algorithm is demonstrated with hypothetical scenarios of paleoerosion rates. The tool can be used toward the exploration of necessary assumptions, feasibility of case-studies, and method limits. This contribution accompanies an overview of the paleoerosion rate method, its applications, and necessary assumptions.