Cited by 110Archaeology and ancient environmental studiesGeology and Paleoclimatology ResearchTree-ring climate responses

Anthropogenic and solar components of hemispheric 14C

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Stuiver, Minze, Braziunas, Thomas F.·1998·Geophysical Research Letters

Abstract

A variable solar (helio‐magnetic) modulation of the cosmic ray flux causes atmospheric 14 C to change on a decadal to century timescale. Ocean‐atmosphere exchange rates and atmospheric circulation patterns play a role in Northern‐Southern Hemispheric 14 C offsets and regional 14 C differences that are significant for radiocarbon dating. Time dependent radiocarbon age differences, relative to Washington, were determined for Alaska (A.D. 1884–1932), South Chile (A.D. 1850–1952 and A.D. 1670–1722), Tasmania (A.D. 1895–1950) and Siberia (A.D. 1545–1715). Twentieth century fossil fuel CO 2, lacking 14 C and mostly released in the Northern Hemisphere (N), has entered the Southern Hemisphere (S) by atmospheric N‐S exchange. Regional 14 C time series show that initial (19th century) positive N‐S 14 C offsets switch to negative values by AD 1940. First order carbon reservoir modeling predicts such crossovers.

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Crossref · 10.1029/97gl03694

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  • These other likely negative offset periods are periods where there is a sustained slope in the IntCal record, indicating increased 14C production and likely lower solar irradiance, and steadily declining 14C values.

    “Again, these are periods where there is a sustained slope in the IntCal record [indicating increased 14C production and, likely, lower solar irradiance (6, 15, 26)] and steadily declining 14C values.”

    From Mediterranean radiocarbon offsets and calendar dates for prehistory (2020) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Introduction links reduced solar shielding at sunspot minima to greater cosmic-ray exposure and positive atmospheric ¹⁴C excursions, supporting the increased-production part of the cited explanation. It does not establish lower solar irradiance specifically; it discusses heliomagnetic activity and sunspot numbers instead. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Latitude-based variations in 14C levels are regarded as minimal within the mid-latitudes.

    “Finally, there are latitude-based variations in 14C levels, but these are regarded as minimal within the mid-latitudes3,4,11.”
  • The Turkish pine negative case observation indicates the relevance of specific growing season differences-where present, as in the Jordan example-above, and beyond, the small latitudinal gradient recognized in 14C values.

    “This negative case observation indicates the relevance of specific growing season differences—where present, as in the Jordan example—above, and beyond, the small latitudinal gradient recognized in 14C values (5–8).”
  • At its 1963 maximum, bomb 14C nearly doubled the 14C content of the atmosphere and biosphere.

    “The maximum amount of this artificial 14 C was present in the atmosphere and thus was also contained in living terrestrial organics in 1963 in amounts that resulted in almost doubling the amount of atmospheric and biospheric 14 C (Fairhall and Young 1970;Stuiver and Braziunas 1998).”

    From Misunderstandings Concerning the Significance of AMS Background <sup>14</sup>C Measurements (2018) · cites this paper as Stuiver and Braziunas 1998

    The Introduction discusses atmospheric radiocarbon measured in tree rings, and the Temporal Regional Δ14C Change section discusses regional differences and fossil-fuel effects. Neither states that bomb-produced 14C peaked in 1963 or nearly doubled atmospheric and biospheric 14C; searches for 1963, bomb-produced radiocarbon, and nuclear testing found no passage addressing that claim. (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Much of the calibration curve record up until IntCal20 derives from laboratories using LLGPC or LSS, and except for ~1,700 to 1,500 BCE, most of the second to early first millennia BCE still does.

    “Much of the calibration curve record up until IntCal20 derives from laboratories using LLGPC or LSS1,10,11,27,32, and, except for the period ~ 1,700 to 1,500 BCE, most of the second to early first millennia BCE still does1.”

    From Radiocarbon offsets and old world chronology as relevant to Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia and Thera (Santorini) (2020) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Introduction and ‘Temporal Regional 14C Change’ section discuss tree-ring measurements and the regions used for earlier calibration curves. Our copy does not say whether those measurements used LLGPC or LSS, or describe the composition of IntCal20 across the second to early first millennia BCE. Searches for the counting methods and the 1700–1500 BCE interval found no passage addressing those points. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Stuiver, M., & Braziunas, T. F.
Affiliations
University of Washington (US)
Venue
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
1998-02
Volume
25
Issue
3
Pages
329-332
ISSN
  • 0094-8276 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-8007
OpenAlex
W2070890729
Cited by
110
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
FWCI
5.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Geophysical Research Letters (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (9310121)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Tree-ring climate responses
Keywords
atmospheric 14C, solar modulation of cosmic rays, fossil fuel CO2, air-sea exchange, atmospheric circulation, radiocarbon dating, Alaska, southern Chile, Tasmania, Siberia

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