Measurement of Small Volume Oceanic ¹⁴C Samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A technique for 14 C measurement of small volume (0.5L) oceanic water samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is described. Samples were taken from a CTD/rosette system used for standard hydrographic work. After CO 2 extraction and target preparation, the samples were measured at the Zürich tandem accelerator facility. On the basis of 14 C data from samples collected on a station in the northern Weddell Sea, the precision of the measurements is estimated to ca ±8‰. The error in the present AMS results is dominated by the statistical error in 14 C detection. From results of duplicate targets, it is concluded that a precision of ±5° can be reached. The 14 C data are discussed in relation to the Weddell Sea hydrography.