14C activity of Antarctic lichens

By the nuclear bomb tests during the 1950s and early 1960s, the radiocarbon content of the atmospheric CO, on the Southern Hemisphere rose within a few years from 98 to 162% of the standard recent value and then dropped to 122% (at the end of 1984). This rapid fluctuation was used to determine the l...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Willkomm, Horst, Bölter, Manfred, Kappen, Ludger
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:English
Published: PANGAEA 1992
Subjects:
Arctowski_Meteo
Arctowski-Station
Henryk Arctowski Polish Ant. Station
King George Island
Antarctic Peninsula
Long-term meteorological data
STAT
Station
Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctica
Polarforschung
Online Access:https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.763182
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.763182
Description
Summary:By the nuclear bomb tests during the 1950s and early 1960s, the radiocarbon content of the atmospheric CO, on the Southern Hemisphere rose within a few years from 98 to 162% of the standard recent value and then dropped to 122% (at the end of 1984). This rapid fluctuation was used to determine the lifetime of five species of lichens collected in the beginning of 1985 in the maritime Antarctic. Under the assumption that Lichens assimilate each year carbon at the same rate and that carbon once fixed at least in main branches never will be exchanged later on. The age of mature thalli of Caioplaco regalis, Ramalino tetebrata and Ustiea antarctica was determined to 32 years, while U, aurantiaco-atra and Himantormia lugubris gave an age of ca. 38 years and ca. 60 years, respectively.

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