Towards radiocarbon dating of ice cores

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Sigl, M., Jenk, T. M., Kellerhals, T., Szidat, S., Gäggeler, H. W., Wacker, L., Synal, H.-A., Boutron, Claude, F., Barbante, C., Gabrieli, J., Schwikowski, M.
• Other Authors: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Universität Bern / University of Bern (UNIBE), Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR), Centre for Ice and Climate Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute Copenhagen (NBI), Faculty of Science Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-Faculty of Science Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH)-University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (UCPH), Ion Beam Physics, ETH Hönggerberg, Laboratoire de glaciologie et géophysique de l'environnement (LGGE), Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes-CNR, Environmental Sciences Department, University of Ca’ Foscari Venice, Italy, Supported by the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) climate programme of the Swiss National Science Foundation (projects VITA and VIVALDI), the European Union Framework Programme 6 (FP6) project MILLENNIUM (017008) and the Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnolo`gica sulla Montagna (INRM).
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2009
• Subjects: [SDU.STU.GL]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Glaciology; ice core; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://insu.hal.science/insu-00498241; https://insu.hal.science/insu-00498241/document; https://insu.hal.science/insu-00498241/file/towards-radiocarbon-dating-of-ice-cores.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3189/002214309790794922

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.