High-Precision Radiocarbon Age Calibration for Terrestrial and Marine Samples

Concepts

Natural SciencesEarth SciencesOceanographyAtmospheric ScienceChemical OceanographyPaleoclimatologyAge AnalysisCarbon CyclePaleoclimate ModelingAtmospheric Radiative ForcingRadiocarbon Age DatingRadiocarbon Dating CalibrationRadiometric Age Calibration

TL;DR

Single‑year and decadal radiocarbon tree‑ring ages, including the Seattle decadal dataset extending back to 11,617 cal BP, are tabulated and form part of the integrated INTCAL98 14C age curve. The authors construct a detailed 14C age calibration curve for 1510–1954 cal AD from single‑year data, transform atmospheric 14C ages into global ocean ages via a reservoir model, and discuss offsets, error multipliers, regional differences and marine age responses to oceanic and atmospheric forcing. INTCAL98 14C ages used for these calculations yield global ocean 14C ages that differ slightly from previously published values. © 1998.

Abstract

Single-year and decadal radiocarbon tree-ring ages are tabulated and discussed in terms of 14 C age calibration. The single-year data form the basis of a detailed 14 C age calibration curve for the cal ad 1510–1954 interval (“cal” denotes calibrated). The Seattle decadal data set (back to 11,617 cal BP, with 0 BP = ad 1950) is a component of the integrated decadal INTCAL98 14 C age curve (Stuiver et al. 1998). Atmospheric 14 C ages can be transformed into 14 C ages of the global ocean using a carbon reservoir model. INTCAL98 14 C ages, used for these calculations, yield global ocean 14 C ages differing slightly from previously published ones (Stuiver and Braziunas 1993b). We include discussions of offsets, error multipliers, regional 14 C age differences and marine 14 C age response to oceanic and atmospheric forcing.