Hostname: page-component-5d84bcc8dc-h6phd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-09-11T08:35:58.465Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Ages in Scottish Coastal and Fjordic Waters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Alix G Cage ,
Jan Heinemeier  and
William E N Austin
Alix G Cage*
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KYI6 9AL, United Kingdom
Jan Heinemeier
Affiliation:
AMS 14C Dating Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
William E N Austin
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KYI6 9AL, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author. Email: agc10@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

High freshwater inputs into Scottish sea lochs (fjords) combined with the restricted exchange between sea loch basin water and coastal Atlantic water masses are likely to result in reduced regional marine radiocarbon reservoir ages (R[t]) in these environments. To test this hypothesis, historical, museum-archived shells, collected live on known dates prior to AD 1950 from coastal locations in NW Scotland, were 14C dated to provide a means of determining R(t) and hence the regional deviation (ΔR) from the modeled global surface ocean reservoir age (R). The sea loch data, when combined with 14C dates from the Scottish west coast (Harkness 1983), yield a regional ΔR value of −26 ± 14 yr. The ΔR of sea loch (fjordic) and coastal waters of NW Scotland are statistically different (at a confidence level >95%) from the ΔR value of 17 ± 14 yr reported for UK coastal waters (Reimer 2005; data after Harkness 1983) and are in good agreement with the coastal ΔR value of −33 ± 93 yr reported by Reimer et al. (2002). Therefore, it is recommended that a regional ΔR correction of −26 ± 14 yr should be applied to modern (i.e. pre-bomb but not prehistoric) marine 14C dates from the NW coast of Scotland.

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 48 , Issue 1 , 2006 , pp. 31 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Aitken, MJ. 1990. Science-Based Dating in Archaeology. London: Longman. 274 p.Google Scholar
Allen, GL, Simpson, JH. 1998. Deep water inflows to Upper Loch Linnhe. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 47(4):487–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andersen, GJ, Heinemeier, J, Nielsen, HL, Rud, N, Thomsen, MS, Johnsen, S, Sveinbjörnsdóttir, Á, Hjartarson, Á. 1989. AMS 14C dating on the Fossvogur sediments, Iceland. Radiocarbon 31(3):592–600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ascough, PL, Cook, GT, Dugmore, AJ, Barber, J, Higney, E, Scott, EM. 2004. Holocene variations in the Scottish marine radiocarbon reservoir effect. Radiocarbon 46(2):611–20.Google Scholar
Ascough, PL, Cook, GT, Dugmore, AJ, Scott, EM, Freeman, SPHT. 2005. Influence of mollusk species on marine ΔR determinations. Radiocarbon 47(3):433–40.Google Scholar
Austin, WEN, Inall, ME. 2002. Deep-water renewal in a Scottish fjord: temperature, salinity and oxygen isotopes. Polar Research 21(2):251–7.Google Scholar
Austin, WEN, Bard, E, Hunt, JB, Kroon, D, Peacock, JD. 1995. The 14C age of the Icelandic Vedde Ash–implications for Younger Dryas marine reservoir age corrections. Radiocarbon 37(1):53–62.Google Scholar
Bard, E. 1998. Geochemical and geophysical implications of the radiocarbon calibration. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 62(12):2025–38.Google Scholar
Bard, E, Arnold, M, Hamelin, B, Tisnerat-Laborde, N, Cabioch, G. 1998. Radiocarbon calibration by means of mass spectrometric 230Th/234U and 14C ages of corals: an updated database including samples from Barbados, Mururoa and Tahiti. Radiocarbon 40(3):1085–92.Google Scholar
Berkman, PA, Forman, SL. 1996. Pre-bomb radiocarbon and the reservoir correction for calcareous marine species in the Southern Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters 23(4):363–6.Google Scholar
Black, AR, Cranston, MD. 1995. River flow gauging station data usage and network evolution in Scotland. In: Proceedings of British Hydrological Society 5th National Hydrology Symposium, Edinburgh. 6.19–6.25.Google Scholar
Bondevik, S, Birks, HH, Gulliksen, S, Mangerud, J. 1999. Late Weichselian marine 14C reservoir ages at the western coast of Norway. Quaternary Research 52(1):104–14.Google Scholar
Broecker, WS, Olson, EA. 1961. Lamont radiocarbon measurements VIII. Radiocarbon 3:176–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broecker, WS, Walton, A. 1959. The geochemistry of 14C in fresh-water systems. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 16:15–38.Google Scholar
Edwards, A, Sharpies, F. 1986. Scottish Sea Lochs: A Catalogue. Oban/Peterborough: Scottish Marine Biological Association/Nature Conservancy Council. 110 p.Google Scholar
Engstrand, LG. 1965. Stockholm natural radiocarbon measurements VI. Radiocarbon 7:257–90.Google Scholar
Eiríksson, J, Larsen, G, Knudsen, KL, Heinemeier, J, Simonarson, LA. 2004. Marine reservoir age variability and water mass distribution in the Iceland Sea. Quaternary Science Reviews 23 (20–22):2247–68.Google Scholar
Facorellis, Y, Maniatis, Y, Kromer, B. 1998. Apparent 14C ages of marine mollusk shells from a Greek island: calculation of the marine reservoir effect in the Aegean Sea. Radiocarbon 40(2):963–73.Google Scholar
Farmer, DM, Freeland, HJ. 1983. The physical oceanography of fjords. Progress in Oceanography 12(2):147–219.Google Scholar
Gillibrand, PA, Turrell, WR, Elliott, AJ. 1995. Deep-water renewal in the upper basin of Loch Sunart, a Scottish fjord. Journal of Physical Oceanography 25(6):1488–503.Google Scholar
Gillibrand, PA, Turrell, WR, Moore, DC, Adams, RD. 1996. Bottom water stagnation and oxygen depletion in a Scottish sea loch. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 43(2):211–35.Google Scholar
Gillibrand, PA, Cage, AG, Austin, WEN. 2005. A preliminary investigation of basin water response to climate forcing in a Scottish fjord: evaluating the influence of the NAO. Continental Shelf Research 25(5–6):571–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Håkansson, S. 1969. University of Lund radiocarbon dates II. Radiocarbon 11(2):430–50.Google Scholar
Håkansson, S. 1970. University of Lund radiocarbon dates III. Radiocarbon 12(2):534–52.Google Scholar
Håkansson, S. 1983. University of Lund radiocarbon dates XVI. Radiocarbon 25(3):875–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Håkansson, S. 1984. A reservoir age for the coastal waters of Iceland. Geologiska Föreningens I Stockholm Förhandlinger 105:64–7.Google Scholar
Håkansson, S. 1987. University of Lund radiocarbon dates XX. Radiocarbon 29(3):353–79.Google Scholar
Harkness, DD. 1983. The extent of natural 14C deficiency in the coastal environment of the United Kingdom. In: Mook, WG, Waterbolk, HT, editors. Proceedings of the Symposium 14 C and Archaeology. PACT 8:351–64.Google Scholar
Heier-Nielsen, S, Heinemeier, J, Nielsen, HL, Rud, N. 1995. Recent reservoir ages for Danish fjords and marine waters. Radiocarbon 37(3):875–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughen, KA, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Beck, JW, Bertrand, CJ, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Cutler, KB, Damon, PE, Edwards, RL, Fairbanks, RG, Friedrich, M, Guilderson, TP, Kromer, B, McCormac, FG, Manning, S, Bronk Ramsey, C, Reimer, PJ, Reimer, RW, Remmele, S, Southon, J, Stuiver, M, Talamo, S, Taylor, FW, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2004a. Marine04 marine radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3)-1059–86.Google Scholar
Hughen, K, Lehman, S, Southon, J, Overpeck, J, Marchal, O, Herring, C, Turnbull, J. 2004b. 14C activity and global carbon cycle changes over the past 50,000 years. Science 303(5655):202–7.Google Scholar
Kristensen, DK, Sejrup, HP, Haflidason, H, Berstad, IM, Mikalsen, G. 2004. Eight-hundred-year temperature variability from the Norwegian continental margin and the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation. Paleoceanography 19(2):PA2007.Google Scholar
Krog, H, Tauber, H. 1974. C-14 chronology of late- and post-glacial marine deposits in north Jutland. Dan-marks geologiske Unders⊘gelse, Årbog 7973:93–105.Google Scholar
Mangerud, J. 1972. Radiocarbon dating of marine shells, including a discussion of apparent age of recent shells from Norway. Boreas 1:149–72.Google Scholar
Mangerud, J, Gulliksen, S. 1975. Apparent radiocarbon ages of recent marine shells from Norway, Spitsbergen, and Arctic Canada. Quaternary Research 5(2):263–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mikalsen, G, Sejrup, HP, Aarseth, I. 2001. Late-Holocene changes in ocean circulation and climate: foraminiferal and isotopic evidence from Sulafjord, western Norway. The Holocene 11(4):437–46.Google Scholar
Mook, WG, Vogel, JC. 1968. Isotopic equilibrium between shells and their environment. Science 159:874–5.Google Scholar
Olsson, IU. 1980. Content of 14C in marine mammals from northern Europe. Radiocarbon 22(3):662–75.Google Scholar
Olsson, IU, El-Gammal, S, Göksu, Y. 1969. Uppsala natural radiocarbon measurements IX. Radiocarbon 11(2):515–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimer, PJ. 2005. Marine Reservoir Correction Database. Accessible at http://radiocarbon.pa.qub.ac.uk/marine. accessed on 26 October 2005.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, McCormac, FG, Moore, J, McCormick, F, Murray, EV. 2002. Marine radiocarbon reservoir corrections for the mid- to late Holocene in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic. The Holocene 12(2):129–35.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Bertrand, CJ, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Cutler, KB, Damon, PE, Edwards, RL, Fairbanks, RG, Friedrich, M, Guilderson, TP, Hogg, AG, Hughen, KA, Kromer, B, McCormac, FG, Manning, S, Bronk Ramsey, C, Reimer, RW, Remmele, S, Southon, J, Stuiver, M, Talamo, S, Taylor, FW, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2004. IntCa104 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3):1029–58.Google Scholar
Siani, G, Paterne, M, Arnold, M, Bard, E, Metivier, B, Tisnerat, N, Bassinot, F. 2000. Radiocarbon reservoir ages in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Radiocarbon 42(2):271–80.Google Scholar
Spiker, EC. 1980. The behavior of 14C and 13C in estuarine water: effects of in situ CO2 production and atmospheric exchange. Radiocarbon 22(3):647–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Braziunas, TF. 1993. Modeling atmospheric 14C influences and 14C ages of marine samples to 10,000 BC. Radiocarbon 35(1):137–89.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, HA. 1977. Discussion: reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–63.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Pearson, GW, Braziunas, T. 1986. Radiocarbon age calibration of marine samples back to 9000 cal yr BP. Radiocarbon 28(2B):980–1021.Google Scholar
van Geel, B, van der Plicht, J, Renssen, H. 2003. Major Δ14C excursions during the late glacial and early Holocene: changes in ocean ventilation or solar forcing of climate change? Quaternary International 105:71–6.Google Scholar
Vogel, JS, Southon, JR, Nelson, DE, Brown, TA. 1984. Performance of catalytically condensed carbon for use in accelerator mass spectrometry. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 5:289–93.Google Scholar
Waelbroeck, C, Duplessy, JC, Michel, E, Labeyrie, L, Pail-lard, D, Duprat, J. 2001. The timing of the last deglaciation in North Atlantic climate records. Nature 412(6848):724–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weidman, CR. 1995. Development and application of the mollusc Arctica islandica as a paleoceanographic tool for the North Atlantic Ocean [PhD dissertation]. MIT/WHOI, Joint Program in Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA. 203 p.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weidman, CR, Jones, GA. 1993. A shell-derived time history of bomb 14C on Georges Bank and its Labrador Sea implications. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 98(C8):14,577–88.Google Scholar
Yoneda, M, Kitagawa, H, van der Plicht, J, Uchida, M, Tanaka, A, Uehiro, T, Shibata, Y, Morita, M, Ohno, T. 2000. Pre-bomb marine reservoir ages in the western North Pacific: preliminary result on Kyoto University collection. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 172:377–81.Google Scholar