Why do sunspot activities affect C14 production in upper atmosphere and why can that be linked to ice records?

Answer 1

Sunspot activity is related to solar storm, and increases in the amount of radiation the sun puts out. High energy radiation from the sun interacts with nitrogen in the atmosphere, turning some into carbon 14, which then falls down and enters the biomass. But presumably some will also get deposit on the surface of ice in the polar region or glacier (before being covered by the next storm), and that amount of carbon 14 at different depth in the ice would be an indication of past solar storm severity.