Radiocarbon Geochemistry of Modern and Ancient Arctic Lake Systems, Baffin Island, Canada

• Published in: Quaternary Research
• Main Authors: Abbott, Mark B., Stafford, Thomas W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1996
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Lake; Baffin Island; Canada; Fossil Lake; Baffin
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/qres.1996.0031; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0033589496900319?httpAccept=text/xml; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0033589496900319?httpAccept=text/plain; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589400024819

Abstract The accuracy of Arctic lake chronologies has been assessed by measuring the 14 C activities of modern carbon sources and applying these isotopic mass balances to dating fossil lake materials. Small (<1 km 2 ) shallow (<25 m) Arctic lakes with watersheds <12 km 2 have soil and peat stratigraphic sections with 14 C activities ranging from 98 to 51% Modern. The 14 C activity of particulate organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, and dissolved inorganic carbon from lake and stream waters ranges from 121 to 95% Modern. The sediment–water interface of the studied lakes shows consistent 14 C ages of ∼1000 14 C yr, although the 14 C activity of living aquatic vegetation is 115% Modern. Radiocarbon measurements of components of the lacustrine carbon pool imply that the ∼1000 14 C yr age of the sediment–water interface results from deposition of 14 C-depleted organic matter derived from the watershed.