Radiocarbon Dating with the University of Washington Accelerator Mass Spectrometry System

The University of Washington FN tandem accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) system has been used in a series of 14 C studies. 1) The 14 C concentrations in annual growth rings for 1962, 1963, and 1964 of a Sitka spruce, each divided into ten sequential segments, were measured; a full and rapid respon...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiocarbon
Main Authors: Grootes, Pieter M, Stuiver, Minze, Farwell, George W, Leach, Donald D, Schmidt, Fred H
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200007335
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033822200007335
Description
Summary:The University of Washington FN tandem accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) system has been used in a series of 14 C studies. 1) The 14 C concentrations in annual growth rings for 1962, 1963, and 1964 of a Sitka spruce, each divided into ten sequential segments, were measured; a full and rapid response of tree-ring cellulose to atmospheric changes in 14 CO 2 is indicated, with a delay, if any, of not more than three weeks. 2) The C concentrations in two chemical fractions of dissolved organic carbon and in two fractions (by size) of particulate organic carbon were measured for Amazon River samples from several locations. All contain bomb carbon, but the amounts differ significantly. 3) Algae samples from lakes in the dry valleys of Antarctica were dated in order to assist in the reconstruction of the climatic history of Antarctica. 4) Background studies indicate that the contribution of the AMS system itself to the observed 14 C concentrations is equivalent to an age of ca 60,000 14 C yr BP; for a prepared sample of 5mg of carbon the background corresponds to ca 50,000 years.