Radiocarbon in the Ocean

Abstract

In addition to dating, radiocarbon has heen widely used as a tracer in the study of the global carbon cycle. and particularly the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean. The anthropogenic input of 14C from nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere stimulated this research. Developing from frequent measurements made in the atmosphere and ocean's surface, the measuremens later became more focused towards understanding the circulation in the deep ocean. From a few attempts at the end of 1950 to measure the 14C increase in the ocean surface (Rafter and Fergusson 1957), the measurement program developed to include such programs as GEOSECS, TTO, JGOFS, SAVE, and WOCE, which obtain comprehensive ocean data, including 14C for the study of ocean circulation. Only in the ocean surface has it been possible to obtain timeseries of 14C measurements as in the atmosphere. For the deep ocean, repeat measurements arc generally several years apart. This sampling frequency is probably sufficient for the majority of the deep ocean. with its long time scale of change.