Radiocarbon Dating the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition (Ca. 14–9¹⁴C Ka Bp) in Terrestrial and Marine Records: The Need for New Quality Assurance Protocols

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The publication during the 1990s of Greenland ice-core records spanning the transition from the Last Cold Stage to the present interglacial (ca. 14-9 14 C ka BP) presented new challenges to scientists working on marine and terrestrial sequences from this important time interval. In particular, there is now an overriding imperative to increase the levels of precision by which events during this period can be dated and correlated. We review some of the problems commonly encountered when using radiocarbon dating for these purposes, and consider some of the new approaches that will be required if this dating method is to provide a basis for a high precision chronology for the last glacial-interglacial transition.

Reconstruction of former glacier equilibrium-line altitudes based on proglacial sites: an evaluation of approaches and selection of sites

“…However, on certain sites and under certain conditions, AMS dates on terrestrial plant macrofossils are not superior to bulk sediment samples (e.g. Gulliksen et al, 1998), and the most reliable chronologies may be obtained not from terrestrial plant macrofossils, but from that part of the sediment fraction (the 'humic' NaOH-soluble component), where there is no contamination by older carbon residues ( Lowe and Walker, 2000).…”

Formal definition and dating of the GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) for the base of the Holocene using the Greenland NGRIP ice core, and selected auxiliary records

“…The geochronology of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition is also problematic, for radiocarbon dating of lake sediments is adversely affected both by technical limitations (mineral carbon error, contamination, etc.) and by the presence of a 600-year long 'radiocarbon age plateau' (a period of constant radiocarbon age) at the beginning of the Holocene (Ammann and Lotter, 1989;Bjö rck et al, 1996;Lowe and Walker, 2000;Lowe et al, 2001). As a consequence, there is frequently a spread of radiocarbon ages around the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary.…”

Late Quaternary lake-level changes constrained by radiocarbon and stable isotope studies on sediment cores from Lake Titicaca, South America

“…Accurate age models are vitally important for the identification of leads and lags in paleoclimate records (Pilcher, 1991;Lowe and Walker, 2000). Although studies of late Quaternary lacustrine facies rely almost exclusively on the AMS-14 C method for age control, most studies do not incorporate the large number of radiocarbon measurements that are necessary to address changing reservoir-water effects and constrain the timing of changes in sedimentation rates (Lowe, 1991, and references therein;Hammarlund et al, 1997).…”