The program called Geochemical Ocean Section Study (GEOSECS) was initiated in 1971 and designed to make an oceanic inventory of chemical constituents in the world oceans, partly as a baseline study for future chemical changes, and partly to investigate large-scale oceanic transport and mixing processes. Measured were hydrographic parameters (salinity, temperature, and oxygen vs depth), the carbonate system, the nutrients, and assorted other constituents with heavy emphasis laid on the radioactive substances, radiocarbon, tritium, and radon.

In the preceding paper (Stuiver and Östlund, this issue), some of the general features of the Geochemical Ocean Section Study (GEOSECS) were outlined and results were listed for the Atlantic Ocean. This paper will deal with the second major cruise, which was described by Craig and Turekian (1976), covering the Pacific Ocean in 1973-74 (cf fig 1).

The radiocarbon dates covered in this list were measured during 1978. Chemical and counting procedures are as reported previously (R, 1978, v 20, p 398-404). Age calculations are based on the conventional 14C half-life (5570 yr) and on the contemporary value of 95% of the activity of NBS oxalic acid. Errors quoted correspond to 1σ value which takes into account the counting statistics, the uncertainty in the half-life, and the instability of the counting system. The ages are not corrected for isotopic fractionation in nature.

Results presented in this date list have been obtained from Jan 1977 to Dec 1977, but some earlier measurements are also included. All calculations are based on a contemporary value equal to 0.95 of the activity of NBS oxalic acid standard and on the Libby value for the half-life of radiocarbon. Ages are reported as conventional radiocarbon dates in years before AD 1950. No corrections for 13C/12C ratio were made for measurements reported in this list. Errors quoted (±1σ) included estimated overall standard deviations of count rates of the unknown sample, contemporary standard and background (Pazdur & Walanus, 1979). Counting equipment and experimental procedures have been described earlier (Mościcki & Zastawny, 1976, 1977; Pazdur et al, 1978; Pazdur & Pazdur, 1979a). Sample descriptions are based on information provided by the submitters.

Since the publication of our first date list (R, 1966, v 8, p 239-247), our 14C laboratory has produced about 1500 radiocarbon dates, including several hundreds of concordant double determinations, the majority of which were on archaeologic samples. The greater part of the other dates concerned dendrochronologic samples from our Tree Ring Laboratory (Schmidt, 1977; Freundlich, 1977). Several archaeologic dates have already been published in articles on archaeology, preferentially by the respective excavators, in a few instances also by us (eg, Schwabedissen and Freundlich, 1968; Faruggia et al, 1973; Kuper, 1975; Lüning and Zürn, 1977; Hohenschwert, 1978). An extensive compilation of Neolithic dates is in preparation.

The following list sums up the results of radiocarbon age determinations obtained at the Laboratory in 1974-1975. The list is prefaced with a brief description of the measurement procedure and discussion of some methodological aspects of the investigation that result in a higher accuracy of dating.

The following list includes samples dated at the Institute of Geology, Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR in 1978. The measurement of natural 14C activity is performed by 1-channel and 2-channel scintillation devices (Punning & Rajamäe, 1977). Ages are calculated using the half-life of 5568 ± 30 years and 0.95 NBS oxalic acid modern standard with ad 1950 as reference year.

The following radiocarbon dates are a partial list of samples measured for a variety of projects and materials since April 1979. Chemical and counting procedures remain the same as indicated in R, v 20, p 274-282.

Measurements have continued with the same proportional counter system, pretreatment procedure, methane preparation and measurement, and calculation, as described previously (R, 1970, v 12, p 298-318). Uncertainties quoted are single standard deviations originating from standard, sample, background counting rates and half-life. No 13C/12C ratios were measured.

Procedures and equipment have been described in previous date lists. Except as otherwise indicated, wood, charcoal and peat samples are pretreated with dilute NaOH and dilute H3PO4 before conversion to the counting gas methane; marls and lake cores are treated with acid only. Very calcareous materials are treated with HCL instead of H3PO4.