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Article
A 200 Year Record of Carbon-13 and Carbon-14 Variations in a Bermuda Coral
Geophysical Research Letters
  • Y. Nozaki, Yale University
  • D. M. Rye, Yale University
  • K. K. Turekian, Yale University
  • Richard E. Dodge, Yale University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-1978
Keywords
  • Meteorology,
  • Chemical composition,
  • Chemical interactions,
  • Boundary layer,
  • Exchange process,
  • Chemical pceanography
Abstract

A 200 year old brain coral, captured in Bermuda in 1976 was slabbed and x-rayed. Using the annual growth bands sequential, dated samples were taken over the entire growth period of the coral and analyzed for Δ14C, δ13C and δ18O. During the past 80 years atmospheric variations in Δ14C and δ13C due to human effects, such as release of bomb C-14 and dilution of both C-14 and C-13 by fossil fuel burning, are closely tracked by the coral. Prior to 1900 divergences between the coral and tree Δ14C and δ13C can be related to world-wide changes in plant production and possibly oceanic upwelling rates.

DOI
10.1029/GL005i010p00825
Comments

©1978 by the American Geophysical Union

Additional Comments

NSF grant #: OCE 76-02039

Citation Information
Nozaki, Y., D. M. Rye, K. K. Turekian, and R. E. Dodge. 1978. "A 200 year record of carbon-13 and carbon-14 variations in a Bermuda coral." Geophysical Research Letters no. 5 (10):825-828. doi: 10.1029/GL005i010p00825.