| Title | Separating natural and bomb-produced radiocarbon in the ocean: The potential alkalinity method |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2002 |
| Authors | Rubin, SI, Key, RM |
| Journal | Global Biogeochemical Cycles |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Date Published | Dec 3 |
| ISBN Number | 0886-6236 |
| Keywords | bomb-produced radiocarbon, CO2, indian-ocean, inventory, natural radiocarbon, pacific-ocean, potential alkalinity method, radiocarbon inventory, radiocarbon separation, silicate method, thermocline, ventilation, woce |
| Abstract | [1] The use of radiocarbon (Delta(14)C) as a tracer for oceanic processes generally requires differentiation of naturally occurring radiocarbon from the bomb component produced by atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. We present a new separation method based on the strong linear correlation between Delta(14)C and potential alkalinity. Unlike previous techniques the new algorithm is applicable at all latitudes. Additionally, the potential alkalinity method provides an estimate of surface ocean prebomb Delta(14)C concentrations. Predictions with the technique appear to be unbiased and have uncertainties which are less than previous techniques. |
| DOI | 10.1029/2001GB001432 |
