Apparent Radiocarbon Ages of recent marine shells from Norway, Spitsbergen, and Arctic Canada

Abstract

The mean apparent radiocarbon ages of marine shells, colleted alive before the initiation of atomic bomb testing, and also before the main input of dead carbon derived from fossil fuels, are found to be 440 yr for the coast of Norway, 510 yr for Spitsbergen, and 750 yr for Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada. The relationship between these apparent ages and the oceanic circulation pattern, is discussed. Also possible variations of the apparent ages back in time are discussed.