Physics
Scientific paper
Feb 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993e%26psl.114..549k&link_type=abstract
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 114, Issue 4, p. 549-554.
Physics
3
Scientific paper
Measurements of radiocarbon in seawater dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), or suitable proxies such as hermatypic corals, are a valuable source of information on carbon flux and ocean circulation. However, knowledge of the global distribution of both pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon is limited due to the sources of these data. Suitable hermatypic corals are restricted to shallow tropical and subtropical waters and oceanographic collections of seawater are prohibitively expensive. What is needed is a proxy for ocean radiocarbon that can be collected at most latitudes and depths, and which can be reliably aged. Here I report accelerator mass spectrometry analyses of radiocarbon from selected regions of fish otoliths and show that such measurements are suitable for determining both pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in all oceans and at most depths. Radiocarbon data obtained from otoliths can extend our knowledge of carbon flux in the oceans and atmosphere and help to develop further understanding of the fate of atmospheric CO2 and ocean circulation. The data presented here represent the first pre- and post-bomb time series of radiocarbon levels from temperate waters. Furthermore, I demonstrate that the dramatic increase in radiocarbon in the atmosphere and oceans, attributable to the atmospheric testing of thermonuclear bombs during the 1950's and 1960's, provides a chemical mark on fish otoliths that is suitable for the validation of age in fishes.
Present address: Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, G.P.O. Box 4, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia.
No associations
LandOfFree
Pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in fish otoliths does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in fish otoliths, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in fish otoliths will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1273660