• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.30-50
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• 2006

The long-lived radionuclide, $^{10}Be$, is produced by cosmic-ray effects in the atmosphere of the earth as well as its surface and that of other planetary surfaces and atmospheres. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was developed in late 1970s, which made $^{10}Be$ terrestrial measurements more feasible. Since then, many research applications of $^{10}Be$ for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications have been developed, which parallel the wide range of radiocarbon ($^{14}C$) research applications. This paper summarizes production mechanisms of $^{10}Be$ both in the atmosphere and on the surface of terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments and also provides numerous $^{10}Be$ research applications in the fields of geomorphology, oceanography, archaeology, glaciology, cosmochemistry, climatology, and planetary science. We also review some $^{10}Be$ AMS research applications.