Characterizing aquatic dissolved organic matter.

TLDR

The article outlines the standards and statistical uncertainties for reporting C‑14 age determinations, emphasizing the need to account for counting errors, instrumental variations, and isotope ratio estimation errors. The study aims to ensure that all radiocarbon dates are calibrated against the NBS oxalic acid standard. It recommends applying corrections for isotopic fractionation and, where relevant, for reservoir effects, and reporting these adjustments separately from conventional radiocarbon ages.

Abstract

Standards for reporting C-14 age determinations are discussed. All dates should be related either directly or indirectly to the NBS oxalic acid standard. Corrections for isotopic fractionation are also desirable. For some materials, particularly marine shell, corrections for reservoir effect are necessary, but these should always be reported separately from the conventional radiocarbon age. The statistical uncertainty (plus or minus one standard deviation) expresses counting errors, inaccuracies in voltage, pressure, temperature, dilution, and should include errors in C-13 ratios. Errors can be significant when isotope ratios are estimated rather than measured directly. The error in the conventional C-14 half life is not included. The article includes tables indicating what data should be reported.