AMS 14C measurements on samples collected in the tropical-equatorial Indian Ocean during the INDIGO program (leg II, 1986) are presented and compared with β-counting results obtained under both INDIGO program and GEOSECS expedition in the Indian Ocean (1978). The most significant observation is a doubling of the bomb-14C inventory and mean penetration depth in the equatorial zone. Based on hydrologic considerations, two hypotheses can be proposed: 1) direct influx of Pacific mid-latitude waters through the Indonesian archipelago and 2) advection and/or mixing with Mode Water from the southern gyre of the Indian Ocean. Results obtained with a general circulation model of the ocean suggest that the influx from the Pacific is important in the upper 300m and that below 500m the bomb-14C budget is dominated by Mode Water advection.

Radiocarbon measurements are reported for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and inorganic carbon (DIC) from seawater samples collected from the Alcyone-5 cruise in the central North Pacific Ocean in 1985. Differences between the UV-radiation techniques used here and those reported by Williams, Oeschger and Kinney (1969) to oxidize and recover the DOC from sea water are presented. UV unoxidizable DOC in these samples is discussed in a separate publication (Druffel, Williams & Suzuki, 1989). We briefly discuss the penetration of the bomb 14C signal into the DOC and DIC pools. The temporal variability of Δ 14C in DIC in surface samples taken every 2–3 days is presented. Concentrations of total dissolved free (FAA) plus combined (hydrolyzable) amino acids (THAA) and total dissolved carbohydrates (TCHO) measured in the same water samples are also reported. Our main aim is to present the chemical and isotopic data from samples collected during the Alcyone-5 cruise. Detailed interpretation is published elsewhere.

Radiocarbon measurements in deep-sea corals from the Little Bahama Bank were used to determine the source of carbon to the skeletal matrices. Specimens of Lophelia, Gerardia, Paragorgia johnsoni and Corallium noibe were sectioned according to visible growth rings and/or stem diameter. We determined that the source of carbon to the corals accreting organic matter was primarily from surface-derived sources. Those corals that accrete a calcerous skeleton were found to obtain their carbon solely from dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in sea water from the depth at which the corals grew. These results, in conjunction with growth-rate studies using short-lived radioisotopes, support the use of deep-sea corals to reconstruct time histories of transient and non-transient tracers at depth in the oceans.

14C data from stations in the central Weddell Sea are presented and discussed using additional parameters (potential temperature, salinity and 3He). The low 14C concentrations of the surface water (≈-90‰) are explained by suppressed gas exchange due to ice cover during the winter and rapid turnover of the surface layer caused by entrainment of Warm Deep Water (WDW) with low 14C concentrations. A simple time-dependent balance calculated for the Surface Water (SW) and the underlying Winter Water (WW) can reproduce the 14C concentrations observed in these layers for 1985. The pre-bomb 14C concentrations are estimated at ≈-130‰ for SW and −140‰ for WW. A strong deviation of the SW 14C concentration observed in 1973 from the calculated value suggest a change in surface circulation and/or air/sea exchange during the period before the Weddell Polynya in 1974. The observed 14C concentrations of the Weddell Sea Bottom Water (WSBW; −135 to −150‰) are only slightly higher than those of the WDW showing that the uptake of bomb 14C in the Weddell Sea is limited. The 14C profiles show a minimum at intermediate depths (≈ 1500m) which is caused by radioactive decay and/or penetration of bomb 14C from shallow and deep layers (WDW and WSBW) into intermediate layers.

Maps of accumulation rates of freshwater diatoms and opal phytoliths in the surface sediments of the Zaire fan show that both types of microfossils were supplied to the ocean floor by the Zaire River, and that opal phytoliths also have a southern source, probably the region of the Namibian desert. The PhFD ratio, of opal phytoliths to freshwater diatoms, can be regarded as an aridity index for equatorial Africa, and probably for large parts of the central and southern Atlantic. In two cores, the record of the PhFD ratio indicates humidity ca 225–190 ka BP, aridity 190–135 ka BP with maxima ca 170 and 140 ka BP and a humid excursion 150 ka BP, an increase in humidity 115 ka BP, a less humid period 90–30 ka BP, more humidity ca 30–17 ka BP with possibly more arid intervals ca 22.5 and 20 ka bp. In general, glacial (sub) stages were more arid and interglacial (sub) stages more humid. For the last 20 ka, the PhFD ratio corresponds closely with the known climatic events in tropical Africa.

A series of radiocarbon age determinations obtained by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) shows that the front of Leffert Glacier, a major outlet glacier from the Prince of Wales Icefield, Ellesmere Island, was 18+ km behind (west of) its present position for a period of at least 1500 radiocarbon years. A subsequent readvance occurred close to 2000 radiocarbon years ago, as a consequence of the climatic cooling that followed the warm Hypsithermal Interval. A number of other glaciers in the region appear to have behaved in similar fashion.

A new method is described for recovering trapped CO2 from polar ice cores. The ice is sublimed under vacuum, and H2O vapor and CO2 are collected at appropriate cold traps. The application of this method to obtain CO2 from a specific ice core, the conversion of that CO2 to graphite, and the measurement of radiocarbon in the CO2 are described in detail. The potentialities and problems of the method are discussed.

We have measured the concentration of 36Cl in 67 samples from the upper portion of the Camp Century ice core. The profile extends from AD 1265 to 1865 and covers the times of the Wolf (AD 1282–1342), Spoerer (AD 1416–1534) and Maunder (AD 1645–1715) minima in sunspot number. Although the profile exhibits much short-term variation, a smoothed plot of the data shows a strong peak in 36Cl concentration over the time of the Maunder Minimum. The deeper part of the core suggests increased deposition of 36Cl over the periods of the Wolf and Spoerer minima. The time resolution of the profile is inadequate for testing for an 11-year periodicity in our data. The data augment evidence from 10Be and 14C studies which indicate solar modulation of radioisotope production. Since, however, much of the short-term variation of 36Cl seems to be independent of solar activity, other factors must affect the deposition of 36Cl in ice. These variations could be due in part to mechanisms affecting the transport of 36Cl in the atmosphere. Based on our data from Camp Century, we calculate an average input of 36Cl of 24 atoms/m2 sec.

Several new AMS 14C dates on shells from the Fossvogur sea sediments in southern Iceland are reported. Up till now, researchers have assumed that the Fossvogur sediments formed during the last interglacial period (Eem), some 100,000 years ago. However, a recent 14C determination from this location yielded an age of ca 11,000 yr. Because of the importance of these sediments for the Quaternary chronology of Iceland, further sampling for 14C dating was subsequently initiated. The present results on several shell samples collected from the Fossvogur layers strongly indicate that these sediments were formed during the warm Allerød period toward the end of the last glaciation.

Radiocarbon dates from sediment core samples are usually obtained on the whole organic carbon portion in order to use as little of the valuable sediment as possible. Such measurements may not result in an accurate chronology of the sediment because the material may include carbon from different reservoirs at the time of deposition. The development of AMS techniques for dating ultra-small (20–500μg) carbon samples permits dating various components of cored sediments. We give examples of physical and chemical fractions of sediments which illustrate the large differences in ages obtainable from materials at the same sediment depth. The dating of all or several of these fractions demands more complex interpretations than just the derivation of a sedimentation rate from whole organic carbon dates.

The rate of calcite formation and the isotopic fractionation in lime mortar during the process of mortar setting were examined. The diffusion rate of atmospheric CO2 in the sample is the rate-controlling step of the chemical reaction. A Rayleigh diffusion in the mortar causes an enrichment of 13C and 18O in the samples.

Travertine deposits occur abundantly at past and present sites of waterfalls in the Arbuckle Mountains region of Oklahoma. This area (1600km2) consists of folded and faulted Prepaleozoic and Paleozoic rocks, with abundant outcrops of Paleozoic carbonate rocks. Samples of recently deposited and old travertine from the Turner Falls area were collected during a 1987 field trip and analyzed for 13C, 14C and 18O content. The aquatic chemistry of travertine depositing creeks was investigated systematically and compared with those of similar areas in SE and central Europe.

Principles contributing to changes and the final balance of rejuvenation in 14C dates of soil profiles are identified. The annual addition to the atmosphere of ca 5.5·1012kg of dead carbon from fossil carbon sources and 1.5·1012kg of older carbon from forest clearing make soil appear older. Bomb carbon and annual recycling of most of the 115·1012kg of terrestrial organic carbon, equivalent to the annual photosynthetic turnover of carbon, rejuvenates soil dates. This also applies to root growth, animal transport, and in acid or alkaline soils, to humus percolation. All available 14C dates of soil profiles were evaluated for the impact of bomb carbon. We also studied the effects of morphogenetic soil-forming processes, such as turbations, on soil rejuvenation. Bioturbation, as a general principle of soil dynamics, requires more differential treatment due to modern and bomb carbon that constitutes body carbon of earthworms as well as steadily increasing 14C age with depth in all Mollisols.

A series of soil samples were collected in November 1984 from five stands of Sitka spruce planted at recorded times between 1951 and 1968. Within a comprehensive program of ecologic and biogeochemical analyses, natural 14C measurements on selected organic components of the 0 to 5cm soil horizons serve to quantify progressive changes induced in the organic carbon inventory and relative to that of the original grassland. Points of particular interest are: 1) an enhanced input of fresh organic matter in the years immediately following planting; this, in parallel with a net decrease in the total carbon content of the topsoil; 2) this freshly introduced carbon predominates in the soil profile even after 30 years of afforestation; 3) during the 15- to 30-year growth period, the soil carbon content remains constant but progressive changes occur in its biogeochemical composition and rate of turnover.

14C measurements are reported for fractionated soil organic matter from a genetic soil sequence which was sampled several times during the period of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. Fractionation of the soils by density followed by acid hydrolysis was successful in separating the organic matter into components with mean residence times for carbon ranging from 5 to 20 years (low density fraction) to several thousand years (residue after acid hydrolysis). Comparison of the infiltration of bomb 14C into the vertical soil profile with the distribution of 137Cs, gives clues as to the mechanism (most probably dissolved transport) for importing carbon into deeper soil layers.

Data on depth distribution and 14C content of soil organic carbon, and on soil CO2 production in forest ecosystems are presented and discussed. Downward movement and turnover of soil organic matter is estimated from a box chain model. The downward transfer velocity of soil organic material depends on the litter material composition and on the annual rate of microbial decomposition. Depth distribution of 210Pb and 137Cs was measured. The identical transfer velocity of 210Pb and soil organic material suggests that lead transport is due to movement of the organic material itself. Lead in organic-rich soils obviously is bound rather tightly to the organic carrier by ion exchange or organic complexing. 137Cs migration depends on the turnover and downward movement of soil organic material. Results suggest that cesium is not transported only by the downward movement of solid organic matter, but, due to chemical exchange between the organic and hydrous phases, travels faster than organic matter.

14C apparent ages along with δ13C values for three different fractions of humic matter (HM) isolated from a suite of four paleosols (PAs) interbedded within tephra are reported. The dated HM fractions were: 1) HA, the easily released humic acids; 2) HAtot, the bulk of humic acids; 3) RES, the insoluble HM. The 14C sequence dated from 13,000–25,000 BP, in agreement with stratigraphy and previous data. Age differences up to 2540±430 were statistically significant among fractions; their order of magnitude being independent from C content and depth. All the PAs showed a common pattern of among-fraction age variation, 14C aging trending from RES to HAtot through HA. As the HM fractions exhibited quite comparable δ13C values (δ13C = −25.4±0.2), it is inferred that the primitive organic matter (OM) input to PAs was dominantly supplied by vegetation of C-3 photosynthetic pathway which underwent complete decomposition during diagenesis.

We determined δ13C and D14C in some agricultural soil profiles of the tropics: Ustalf from the semi-arid tropics (India), a Udult, an Aquoll and an Aquept from the humid tropics (Philippines). We used a thin-layer sampling, resulting in high-resolution depth-distribution patterns of natural 13C and 14C content of organic carbon. Regular plowing or puddling leads to uniform isotope concentrations in the topsoil. Decomposition of organic matter raises the δ13C value, and vertical translocation raises the δ13C value with depth. The change of cultivation from pulses (C3-type metabolism of photosynthesis) to sorghum (C4) results in a decrease of δ13C with depth in the topsoil. Where the clay content in the subsoil is high, δ13C remains constant, due to fixation of organic carbon to clay minerals, and D14C decreases with depth. Below the clay-enriched zone, δ13C declines and D14C rises again, due to a chromatographic-like effect. At some horizon boundaries, inhomogeneities in texture delay percolation locally, thus preventing sorption and causing peak values of D14C.

The 14C dating of organic fractions from paleosol layers containing <2% carbon in loess-paleosol sequences from the loess plateau in China has yielded results that are quite often much younger than the true age of the sediments. Percolation of modern organic materials from agricultural activities, and binding of these materials within the weathered clays of the paleosols has meant that conventional pretreatment techniques for 14C dating would not isolate a reliable chemical fraction. The total sequence from Bei Zhuang Cun, in Shaanxi Province, reflects the climatic history of the area for ca 30,000 years, ranging from the interstadial of the last glacial period to the postglacial period. Analysis of solvent extracts of organic material from this site indicates that they are mainly composed of carbohydrate residues originating from the relatively recent agricultural activity. Validity of the humic components for dating will be discussed.

The production rate of 14C during the Holocene averaged 2.4 ± 0.2 atoms 14C/cme2 sec. Neutrons produced by galactic cosmic rays account for 90% of the 14C production with the remaining 10% resulting from neutrons produced by protons from solar flares. Production and decay of 14C can be reconciled by including 14C permanently or temporarily stored in sediments. Sedimentary reservoirs contain ca 30% of all terrestrial 14C. The lagoons, bays, marshes and deltas of the coastal wetlands alone account for 12% of the 14C inventory. The capacity of the coastal wetlands to store carbon has become the subject of renewed interest.