Towards radiocarbon dating of ice cores
Instruments and Methods International audience A recently developed dating method for glacier ice, based on the analysis of radiocarbon in carbonaceous aerosol particles, is thoroughly investigated. We discuss the potential of this method to achieve a reliable dating using examples from a mid- and a...
Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
Other Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
HAL CCSD
2009
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00498241 https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00498241/document https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00498241/file/towards-radiocarbon-dating-of-ice-cores.pdf https://doi.org/10.3189/002214309790794922 |
Summary: | Instruments and Methods International audience A recently developed dating method for glacier ice, based on the analysis of radiocarbon in carbonaceous aerosol particles, is thoroughly investigated. We discuss the potential of this method to achieve a reliable dating using examples from a mid- and a low-latitude ice core. Two series of samples from Colle Gnifetti (4450 m a.s.l., Swiss Alps) and Nevado Illimani (6300 m a.s.l., Bolivian Andes) demonstrate that the 14C ages deduced from the water-insoluble organic carbon fraction represent the age of the ice. Sample sizes ranged between 7 and 100 μg carbon. For validation we compare our results with those from independent dating. This new method is thought to have major implications for dating non-polar ice cores in the future, as it provides complementary age information for time periods not accessible with common dating techniques. |
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