INTCAL98 Radiocarbon Age Calibration, 24,000–0 cal BP

TLDR

The study converts radiocarbon ages to calibrated ages for 24,000–0 cal BP using dendrochronologically dated tree rings, uranium‑thorium dated corals, and varve‑counted marine sediment. The authors transform laboratory 14C age–cal age data into Δ14C profiles and calibration curves for atmosphere and oceans, and analyze offsets, regional differences, tree‑coral comparisons, marine reservoir age variations, and deep‑water circulation effects on Δ14C values. They find systematic offsets and errors in measured 14C ages, regional 14C age differences, tree‑coral discrepancies, time‑dependent marine reservoir ages, single‑year 14C results, and evidence that changes in oceanic.

Abstract

The focus of this paper is the conversion of radiocarbon ages to calibrated (cal) ages for the interval 24,000–0 cal BP (Before Present, 0 cal BP = AD 1950), based upon a sample set of dendrochronologically dated tree rings, uranium-thorium dated corals, and varve-counted marine sediment. The 14 C age–cal age information, produced by many laboratories, is converted to Δ 14 C profiles and calibration curves, for the atmosphere as well as the oceans. We discuss offsets in measured l4 C ages and the errors therein, regional 14 C age differences, tree–coral 14 C age comparisons and the time dependence of marine reservoir ages, and evaluate decadal vs . single-year 14 C results. Changes in oceanic deepwater circulation, especially for the 16,000–11,000 cal BP interval, are reflected in the Δ 14 C values of INTCAL98.