A radiocarbon perspective on Greenland ice-core chronologies: Can we use ice cores for (14)C calibration?

TitleA radiocarbon perspective on Greenland ice-core chronologies: Can we use ice cores for (14)C calibration?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsSouthon, J.
JournalRadiocarbon
Volume46
Pagination1239-1259
Date Published2004
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number0033-8222
Accession NumberWOS:000231338100016
Keywords1705; absolute; beryllium 10; cal bp; chronology; climate record; gisp2; Keck / AMS Lab; laser-light scattering; north-atlantic; oxygen-isotope; polar ice; Research; yr bp
Abstract

Some of the most valuable paleoclimate archives yet recovered are the multi-proxy records from the Greenland GISP2 and GRIP ice cores. The crucial importance of these data arises in part from the strong correlations that exist between the Greenland delta(18)O records and isotopic or other proxies in numerous other Northern Hemisphere paleoclimate sequences. These correlations could, in principle, allow layer-counted ice-core chronologies to be transferred to radiocarbondated paleoclimate archives, thus providing a (14)C calibration for the Last Glacial Maximum and Isotope Stage 3, back to the instrumental limits of the (14)C technique. However, this possibility is confounded by the existence of numerous different chronologies, as opposed to a single (or even a "best") ice-core time scale. This paper reviews how the various chronologies were developed, summarizes the differences between them, and examines ways in which further research may allow a (14)C calibration to be established.

Alternate JournalRadiocarbon
ESS Associations
Research Area: 
Biogeochemical Cycles
Research Lab: 
Keck / AMS Lab