Radiocarbon in polar ice: problems of generation and conservation

A. V. Nesterenok, V. O. Naidenov
Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Politekhnicheskaya 26, Saint-Petersburg 194021, Russia

It is shown that experimental values of abundance of 14C for samples from Greenland's borehole GISP2 are systematically lower than calculated values. The deficit of 14C "in situ" is a general characteristic of ice samples from both Greenland's and Antarctic boreholes. The observed level 14C for the samples from the borehole GISP2, as well as small diffusion timescales for carbon oxides in the firn indicate the necessity of existance of mechanisms responsible for the conservation of 14C in the firn granes. Suggested mechanisms are hydratation of molecules 14CO2 in a disordered ice layer, which appears at the surface of ice granes of the firn, and also on the surface between monocrystals of ice. In the case of 14CO, low-energy compounds with water molecules can appear. Understanding of the mechanisms of conservation of 14C in firn will allow us to make a more accurate interpretation of experimental data.

Russian abstract
Russian

[Back to the Programme] [Seminar Home Page] [Department of Theoretical Astrophysics] [Ioffe Institute]

Page created on March 12, 2010.