A new ΔR value for the southern North Sea and its application in coastal research

Kristin Haynert,Dirk Enters,Achim Wehrmann,Holger Freund,Frank Schlütz

doi:10.1017/njg.2020.19

Abstract

AbstractAccelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) dating ofCerastoderma edule(Linnaeus 1767) andMytilus edulis(Linnaeus 1758) shells sampled in AD 1889 near the island of Wangerooge gave a new local correction factor ΔR of −85 ± 1714C years for the Wadden Sea area. The value is considerably higher than the available scattered data from the North Sea, which were obtained from pre-bomb growth rings of livingArctica islandica(Linnaeus 1767). This can be explained by the incorporation of14C-depleted terrestrial carbon into the shell material which compensates the intensified exchange of CO2between atmosphere and shallow coastal water, e.g. by tidal currents. Additionally, two examples of application of the new ΔRvalue in coastal research give deeper insights into the dynamics of bivalve shell preservation in the Wadden Sea and the need for further research to clarify the Holocene reintroduction ofMya arenaria(Linnaeus 1758) into European waters.

Highlights

Radiocarbon dating of marine material such as bivalve shells or foraminifera tests requires an estimate of the marine reservoir effect, because the carbon reservoir of the oceans is depleted in 14C compared to the atmosphere (Stuiver et al, 1986; Stuiver and Braziunas, 1993; Alves et al, 2018)
Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) dating of Cerastoderma edule (Linnaeus 1767) and Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus 1758) shells sampled in AD 1889 near the island of Wangerooge gave a new local correction factor ΔR of −85 ± 17 14C years for the Wadden Sea area
The value is considerably higher than the available scattered data from the North Sea, which were obtained from pre-bomb growth rings of living Arctica islandica (Linnaeus 1767)

Summary

Introduction

Radiocarbon dating of marine material such as bivalve shells or foraminifera tests requires an estimate of the marine reservoir effect, because the carbon reservoir of the oceans is depleted in 14C compared to the atmosphere (Stuiver et al, 1986; Stuiver and Braziunas, 1993; Alves et al, 2018). Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) dating of Cerastoderma edule (Linnaeus 1767) and Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus 1758) shells sampled in AD 1889 near the island of Wangerooge gave a new local correction factor ΔR of −85 ± 17 14C years for the Wadden Sea area.

Results

Conclusion