Hostname: page-component-74656f9884-c52kr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-08T17:19:11.888Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reporting 14C Activities and Concentrations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Willem G Mook  and
Johannes van der Plicht
Willem G Mook
Affiliation:
Centre for Isotope Research, Groningen University, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
Johannes van der Plicht
Affiliation:
Centre for Isotope Research, Groningen University, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
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.

Three modes of reporting 14C activities are in use, in part analogous to the internationally accepted (IAEA) conventions for stable isotopes: (1) absolute activity, the specific activity of 14C or the activity per gram of carbon; (2) activity ratio, the ratio between the absolute activities of a sample and the standard; and (3) relative activity, the difference between the absolute activities of a sample and standard material, relative to the absolute standard activity. The basic definitions originate from decisions made by the radiocarbon community at its past conferences. Stuiver and Polach (1977) reviewed and sought to specify the definitions and conventions. Several colleagues, however, have experienced inadequacies and pitfalls in the definitions and use of symbols. Furthermore, the latter have to be slightly amended because of the use of modern measuring techniques.

This paper is intended to provide a consistent set of reporting symbols and definitions, illustrated by some practical examples.

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , 1999 , pp. 227 - 239
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Craig, H. 1954. Carbon 13 in plants and the relationships between carbon 13 and carbon 14 variations in nature. Journal of Geology 62:115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Godwin, H. 1962. Half life of radiocarbon. Nature 195: 984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gonfiantini, R. 1984. Stable Isotope Reference Samples for Geochemical and Hydrological Investigations, Report Adv. Group Meeting, Vienna, September 1983. Vienna, IAEA. 77 p.Google Scholar
Karlén, I, Olsson, IU, Kållberg, P, Killiççi, S. 1966. Absolute determination of the activity of two 14C dating standards. Arkiv for Geofysik 6:465–71.Google Scholar
Libby, WF. 1952. Radiocarbon dating. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 124 p. (Also published in Phoenix Science Series, 2nd edition, 1965) Google Scholar
Mann, WB. 1983. An international reference material for radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon 25(2):519–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meijer, HAJ, Li, WJ. 1998. The use of electrolysis for accurate δ17O and δ18O isotope measurements in water. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies 34: 349–69.Google Scholar
Mook, WG. 1980. The effect of fossil-fuel and biogenic CO2 on the 13C and 14C content of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Radiocarbon 22(2):392–7.Google Scholar
Mook, WG. 2000. Environmental isotopes in the hydrological cycle. Vol. 1. Introduction, principles, methods. UNESCO/IAEA. 255 p.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, H. 1977. Discussion: reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Van der Plicht, J, editors. 1998. INTCAL98: calibration issue. Radiocarbon 40(3): xi–xiv, 1041–162.Google Scholar