research applications of stable and radioactive isotopes · 2017. 2. 23. · both radioactive and...

www.luomus.fi

Research applications of stable and radioactive

isotopes

Dr (PhD) Markku Oinonen

Unit Director, adjunct professor

Natural Sciences Unit / Laboratory of Chronology

Finnish Museum of Natural History

University of Helsinki

www.luomus.fi

Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryFirst step towards nature

Exhibitions at Pohjoinen

Rautatienkatu 17, Helsinki

4 units: Zoology, Botany, Natural

Sciences, General Services

Natural Sciences Unit:

Laboratory of Chronology

Geological Museum

Personnel: ~15

Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

LHC

ALICE

2002-2006

14C,

TL/OSL

2007-

JYFL, CERN

1992-2001

Time travellingwith various methods…

JYFL, CERN

LHC/ALICE

Presently: Quantifying the last

100 000 years by radiocarbon

measurements, Luminescence

dating, Stable isotope ratios


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Contents

1. Hour:

• Cosmogenic nuclei and stable isotopes

• Methodologies: IRMS, AMS

• Basics of decay and accumulation clocks

• Radiocarbon dating, basics

2. Hour:

• Radiocarbon dating continues

• Past: Archaeological and multidisciplinary studies in chronological order

• Present (and future): Environmental applications (Greenhouse gas studies,Biofraction measurements)

www.luomus.fi

Both radioactive and stableisotopes matter

Background radioactivities of

Earth have been (and are)

produced throughout the history

of the Universe

Cosmogenic nuclei are

produced by cosmic ray

bombardment (e.g. 14C)

All radioactive nuclei eventually

decay to stable ones from which

the Earth and its spheres mostly

consist of


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Cosmic raysBehind cosmogenic nuclei

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16938.jpg,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AStructure_of_the_magnetosphere-en.svg, Masarik and Beer 2009

Magnetic field lines (strength) at polar regions allow easier entry of CR’s

into atmosphere (vertical cut-off rigidity)


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Production of cosmogenic nucleiTrace elements to study past

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atmospheric_Collision.svg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AProtonshower.jpg

Secondary particles cause nuclear

reactions → cosmogenic nuclei,

such as 14C, 10Be, are produced

These enter into elemental cycles

of the Earth, 14C as 14CO2


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Stable isotopesMass-dependent effects

Quantum mechanics: Isotopic mass affects the energy levels, strength of

chemical bonds, and vibrational, rotational and translational motion of

atoms/molecules

Mass-dependent effects on isotopic concentrations: larger for light

elements

isotope1 isotope2 m1 m2 mass difference m2-m1(%)

H D 1 2 100,0

12C 13C 12 13 8,3

14N 15N 14 15 7,1

16O 18O 16 18 12,5

see http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/classes/Geo656/656notes03/


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi 23.2.2017 9

Stable isotope ratiosMass-dependent effects

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/ofr01-257/images/figure1.gif

Hoefs J 1987. Stable Isotope Geochemistry. Springer-

Verlag Berlin – Heidelberg – New York, ISBN 3-540-

173141-2

→ lighter molecules break-up easier

→ lighter isotopes favoured in reactions

Lighter isotopes/molecules more mobile

Mass-dependent (process &

temperature!) effects on isotopic

concentrations

Carbonates: d13C ~0 ‰

Atm CO2: d13C ~ -8 ‰

Wood cellulose: d13C ~ -25 ‰


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Mass Spectrometry (MS) ja Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

Negative ions

with Cs sputtering

Analysis by

momentum

ME/q2

Acceleration to

strip the ions

to positive

Analysis by

momentum

ME/q2

Analysis by

energy

E/q

Ion

identification

Stable isotope ratios

(IRMS for e.g. 13C/12C) or abundant

radioactive isotopes

Cosmogenic

(trace) isotope

ratios

(e.g. 14C/13C)


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi 11

”The cause must be prior to the effect” Essence of Chronological Analyses

Chronological methods

provide fundamental means

to assess order of events

Spectra of natural events,

cultural phases, most

probable event sequences

Foundation for discussing

causes and effects

Hume D 1740; Bronk-Ramsey C 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1): 337-60.

Oinonen M, Pesonen P, Onkamo P et al 2014. Event reconstruction through Bayesian chronology: Massive mid-Holocene

lake-burst triggered large-scale ecological and cultural change. Holocene 24(11): 1419-1427.

-4000 -3900 -3800 -3700

0,00

0,01

0,02

0,03

0,04

cale

ndar

year

pro

babili

ty

year (cal BC)

Vuoksi breakthrough

Early Asbestos Ware ends

Typical Comb Ware starts

Lake Saimaa region


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Datings without radioisotopes

1) Dendrochronology

1 year accuracy, >50 tree rings, even 12460 years (Friedrich et al 2004. Radiocarbon 46, 1111–1122.),

2) Varve counting

Sediment- and ice layers, may reach 1 year accuracy

3) Paleomagnetic datings

Sediment layers with magnetic particles: alignmentaccording to contemporaneus magnetic field lines

4) Lichenometry

Growth of lichen on rock surfaces


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Datings with radioisotopes

Exploiting the background radiation in total:

Luminescence dating

Exploiting the fallout due to nature, nuclear tests and Chernobyl:137Cs, 210Pb dating

Exploiting in-situ production:

Surface-exposure dating

Exploiting the decay characteristics:

Radiometric datings


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Radiometric datingsgeneral

Decay clock

Time can be determined by counting

what is left ↔ parent atoms left after

radioactive decay

OR

Accumulation clock

By combining it to what is

accumulated ↔ ratio of parent

atoms left and daughter atoms

accumulated after radioactive decay


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

decay clocks:

accumulation clocks:

Radiometric datingsfundamental equations


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Decay clocks: no exchange of parent

isotope within environment after sample

formation

e.g. death of an animal causes a system

closure: the exchange of 14C with the

environment is ceased

Accumulation clocks: no exchange of

parent or daughter isotope within

environment after sample formation

e.g. cooling of volcanic rock causes a

system closure: no 40Ar diffused out after40K decay

Dating of system closurespreconditions


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Radiocarbon methodologyHistory

1949: Arnold, J. R.; Libby, W. F. 1949. Age Determinations by

Radiocarbon Content: Checks with Samples of Known Age. Science

110 (2869): 678–680 - Nobel Prize of chemistry for Libby in 1960

1st 14C revolution 1950-1970: scientific chronologies to parallel

historical

2nd 14C revolution 1967→: calibration due to changes in atm 14C

content

1977 →: Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), formerly b counting(Purser et al 1977, Bennett et al 1977)

1990s →: Utilization of Bayesian chronological models

Markku Oinonen / Physics Days 2014

www.luomus.fi

Photosynthesis samples carbon14C (and 13, 12C) from atmosphere to plants and animals

Cosmic rays produce 14C in

atmosphere via nuclear

reaction:

1nspall + 14N → 14C + 1H

14C (and 13, 12C) ends up to

plants and animals via

photosynthesis and food

chain

14C concentration equals to

contemporary atmospheric

one

Graphic: H.Bonner, Design: M. Oinonen for

Elämän Historia-exhibition / LUOMUS


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Radiocarbon methodOnce upon a time during Stone Age...

Half of the radiocarbon is

left after 5730 years

Carbon exchange may

stop at some moment...




2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Radiocarbon methodOnce upon a time at present…

An archaeologist finds the

human remains

Hopefully he/she is

scientifically oriented…




2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

The sample goes through multiple

phases in the laboratory:

1) Cleaning

2) Chemical pretreatment

3) Combustion/acid release → CO2

4) 13C/12C measurement (d13C)

5) Reduction → C

6) Packing

7) 14C measurement by AMS

8) Result analysis

Eventually, the sample quantified as

a number

Radiocarbon methodA little later in the laboratory

Graphic:

H.Bonner

Design:

M. Oinonen

for Elämän

Historia-exhibition

at LUOMUS


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Basic principlesStuiver M & Polach H 1977. Radiocarbon 19(3):pp. 355-363.

1) a half-life of 5568 years i.e. λ = 8033 yr-1 (not true!);

2) the assumption that all 14C reservoirs have remained constant

through time (not true!);

3) the use of Oxalic acid I or II or appropriate secondary radiocarbon

standards as the modern radiocarbon standard;

4) correction for sample isotopic fractionation (d13C) to a value of -25.0

per mille relative to the ratio of 12C/13C in the carbonate standard

VPDB;

5) the use of 1950 AD as year 0

→ Measure 14C content (Pt , AMS: 14C/13C ratio) with respect to the year

1950 standard (P0) → radiocarbon age t in units of BP i.e. before

present


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Curve deduced by

measuring 14C contents of

tree rings with 5-10 year

time difference

The radiocarbon age and its

statistical distribution

reflected to calendar year

axis via the curve

Calendar year probability

distribution

23

Reimer P J et al. 2009. IntCal09 and Marine09 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves, 0–50,000 Years cal BP.

Radiocarbon 51: pp. 1111-1150.

Bronk Ramsey C 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1): pp. 337-360.

Calibration to calendar yearsCalibration curve


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi 24

Beauty of Bayesian methodsBayes T and Price R 1763. An Essay towards solving a Problem in the Doctrine of Chance. By the late

Rev. Mr. Bayes, communicated by Mr. Price, in a letter to John Canton, A. M. F. R. S.. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 53 (0): 370-418.

Priof beliefs are updated in light of new information…

Is that what all the scientists do every day?

When a scientist is performing research, she/he is frequently ”updating

her/his prior beliefs”

Bayesian principle converts the qualitative thinking to be

quantitative


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Calibration to calendar yearsBayesian analysis

Buck C E, Cavanagh W G, Litton C 1996. Bayesian Approach to Interpreting Archaeological Data. Wiley & Sons Ltd.

ISBN 978-0-471-96197-0.

Bronk Ramsey C 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1): pp. 337-360.

Radiocarbon age (x) converts a priori (uniform) calendar year probability

distribution p(θ) to a posteriori calendar year probability distribution p(θ|x)

posterior:

”result”prior:

”archaeology”

likelihood:

”dates and calibration”

25Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Bayesian chronological modelsBronk Ramsey C 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates.

Radiocarbon 51(1): pp. 337-360.

26

Ordering and time difference of events can be integrated within

Bayesian framework (e.g Oxcal software)

Forms calendar year probability distributions based on ANY

chronological information (14C, luminescence dating, tree-ring data,

historical data etc)

Provides versatile means to quantitatively assess timing of events,

beginnings and ends of cultural phases

Another 14C revolution…

Yields to time spectra of events, layers and phases


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Climatic reconstructions: pollen14C provides the timeline (50 years)

Pollen-based climatic

reconstructions use 14C data to

define timeline

Warm phase of Holocene

Climatic Optimum around 8000

– 3500 cal BC

Observed throughout the

Northern Hemisphere

Heikkilä M, Seppä H (2003) A 11 000 yr palaeotemperature reconstruction from the southern boreal zone in Finland, Quat Sci Rev

22:541–554.

-10000 -8000 -6000 -4000 -2000 0 20000

2

4

6

8

ann

ua

l m

ean

T(C

)

year (cal BC/AD)

◦ ◦ ◦

Holocene climatic optimum


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Temporal distribution of 14C dates14C in Eastern Fennoscandian archaeology

2588 archaeological dates

summed as a function of time

Maximum at ~5000 BP coincides

with the warm phase of the

Holocene period

Mostly due to spread of innovative

and expansive Typical Comb Ware

culture

Triggered by Lake Saimaa

discharge through Vuoksi river? Tallavaara M, Pesonen P, Oinonen M 2010. Prehistoric population

history in eastern Fennoscandia, Journal of Archaeological

Science 37: pp. 251-260.

Oinonen M, Pesonen P, Tallavaara M 2010. Archaeological radiocarbon dates for studying the

population history in eastern Fennoscandia, Radiocarbon 52: pp. 393-407

10000 8000 6000 4000 2000

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Holocene Climatic Optimum

nu

mb

er

of

14C

da

tes/5

0 y

ea

rs

radiocarbon age (BP)

Reproduced from Oinonen et

al 2010. Radiocarbon 52:393-407.

Lake Saimaa discharge i.e.

Vuoksi breakthrough


2016, Mainz


Vuoksi breakthroughInteraction between Nature and Man

Ancient Lake Saimaa bursted through

a ridge around 6000 years ago and its

waters started to flow towards Lake

Ladoga

Water level dropped 4 meters and

revealed thousands of km2 residual

wetlands

Nearly the same time, the most

important eastern Fennoscandian

culture arrives and old one ends


2016, Mainz



Vuoksi burrowed into the soil and rock of Salpausselkä ridge


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi 31

Archaeological cultures at easternFinland c. 6000 years ago

EAW, Early Asbestos Ware ~4600 calBC

onwards

• Using asbestos(!) in clay matrix

• Thinner, Heat resistance?

TCW, Typical Comb Ware ~3800 calBC

onwards

• Clear changes in archaeological material

(pottery changes, red ochre graves, pit

houses, flint, amber, copper)

• Possibly the most influential culture in

eastern Fennoscandian Stone Age


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi 32

Radiocarbon dates (N = 61):

1. 14C dates of settlements above the highest shoreline of

transgressed ancient Lake Saimaa or below Vuoksi floodplain

→ pre-Vuoksi

2. 14C dates of settlements below the highest shoreline on the

residual wetlands or above the Vuoksi floodplain → post-

Vuoksi

Model: Vuoksi event dating (VB) as calendar year probability

distribution of a Boundary (in Oxcal language) between pre-Vuoksi and

post-Vuoksi dates

Chronological modelVuoksi breakthrough


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

-4000 -3900 -3800 -3700

0,00

0,01

0,02

0,03

0,04

ca

lend

ar

yea

r p

roba

bili

ty

year (cal BC)

Vuoksi breakthrough

Early Asbestos Ware ends

Typical Comb Ware starts

23.2.2017 33

Sequence P1 P2 P3 P4

VB > eEAW > sTCW 0.380 0.331 0.343 0.294

VB > sTCW > eEAW 0.237 0.337 0.279 0.441

eEAW > VB > sTCW 0.220 0.168 0.192 0.129

sTCW > eEAW > VB 0.077 0.084 0.084 0.078

sTCW > VB > eEAW 0.044 0.047 0.055 0.038

eEAW > sTCW > VB 0.042 0.033 0.046 0.020


Vuoksi and cultural events

dated with 118 14C dates

Bayesian model allows for

estimating the most probable

order of events


2016, Mainz


Vuoksi breakthroughAmount of moose bone finds

Archaeology &

Osteology:

Amount of moose bone

finds increase by factor

of 2-5 during the post-

Vuoksi Typical Comb

Ware culture

Moose population

supported the human

population increase


2016, Mainz


Chronology → Causes and effects

Nearly inevitable on revealed lands:

1)Pioneer vegetation occupies the land →

2) Fauna (such as moose) takes advantage on increased

resources →

3) People occupy the land and take advantage of large prey

The environmental catastrophy was mediating the cultural change

Chronology (within multidisciplinary effort) allows for

reconstructing Causes and Effects


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Details of human timeline14C in Eastern Fennoscandian archaeology

Holocene Climatic

Optimum and Vuoksi both

contributed in shaping the

human timeline

DNA studies: genetic

bottleneck at around 3600

BP: we see a minimum

Rise of the signal coincides

with start of Bronze Age at

3200 BP

What about agriculture? Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

10000 8000 6000 4000 2000

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50


Bottleneck 3600 BP

Bronze Age 3200 BP

Agriculture starts?

Vuoksi breakthrough

num

ber

of

14C

date

s/5

0 y

ea

rs



al 2010. Radiocarbon 52:393-407.

www.luomus.fi

Role of agriculture14C in Eastern Fennoscandian archaeology

Datings of cereal pollen have been

summed to form calendar year

probability distribution (c)

Archaeological (b) and agricultural

signal (c) correlate with R = 0.87-

0.98

Advance of agriculture

explains the increase of

human population

Lahtinen M, Oinonen M et al 2016. Published online before

print August 8, 2016 in The Holocene.

doi:10.1177/0959683616660164.


2016, Mainz

-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500

0,0

0,1

0,2

-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500

0,0

0,1

0,2

-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500

0,00

0,04

0,08

0,12

-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500

-1

0

1

2

3

4

c) Pollen

d) PC1

b) Archaeological

a) Artificial

ave.

sum

med

cal

enda

r ye

ar p

roba

bilit

y

ave.

PC

1 sc

ore

year (BC / AD)


Kivutkalns (Kivilinna) at Väinä riverFollowing the footsteps of Väinämöinen(’s mother)

Kivutkalns


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Kivutkalns (Kivilinna) at Dvina riverFollowing the footsteps of Väinämöinen’s mother?

Oinonen M, Vasks, A., Zarina, G. & Lavento, M 2013. STONES, BONES

AND HILLFORT – RADIOCARBON DATING OF ĶIVUTKALNS BRONZE-

WORKING CENTRE. Radiocarbon 55: 1252-1264 and M.Oinonen et al to

be published

Cemetery (200 humans) and

hillfort at the same 2500

year old Bronze Age site

C, N isotopes: Mostly

terrestrial diets (e.g.

agriculture)

Very narrow time and dietary

distribution makes

wondering whether deaths

were contemporaneous


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Combining 14C and ancient DNABronze-Age cemetery in river Dvina, Latvia, 2500 BP

14C makes timeline of

phylogenetic trees (DNA

analyses) factor of 10 more

accurate compared to

molecular clock

Genetic continuity to

modern Latvians and other

populations around the

Baltic Sea, including Finns

Dvina river and Baltic Sea

has been a genetic highwayYears (cal BP)


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Timeline nearly reconstructed14C in Eastern Fennoscandian archaeology

The human timeline in

Eastern Fennoscandia starts

to be grossly reconstructed

1500 years ago there is a

sudden drop in human

activity

Fimbulvinter of Nordic

Sagas?

→

Ask trees…Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

10000 8000 6000 4000 2000

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50


Bottleneck 3600 BP

Bronze Age 3200 BP

Agriculture starts

Vuoksi breakthrough

nu

mb

er

of

14C

da

tes/5

0 y

ea

rs



al 2010. Radiocarbon 52:393-407. Fimbulvinter?

www.luomus.fi

Carbon isotopes in tree (C3-plants)Stable isotopes

1. Carbon dioxide of air

currently yields a δ13C value

of about -8 ‰

2. Fractionation due to

diffusion is -4.4‰

3. Fractionation when internal CO2 is

utilised by the photosynthetic enzyme

4. Further fractionations yielding

lower δ13C values when leaf

sugars are used to make

cellulose and lignin

→ δ13C ~ -25 ‰.

CO2


2016, Mainz


Sample material: subfossil pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees

from Finnish Lapland (close to auroral oval!)

Lakes Hattulompolo, Pitkäjärvi, Luolajärvi, Kompsiojärvi,

Namatesjärvi ja Juomusjärvi

-26

-25

-25

-24

-24

-23

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

δ13C‰

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Te

mp

era

ture

°C

δ13C corrected

Jul-Aug T

Use 7500 –year long tree-ring series to study carbon stable isotopic ratios

(d13C) in tree rings for multiproxy climatic reconstruction record

environmental conditions:

Isotopes in climatic reconstructionsCARATE consortium, funded by Academy of Finland


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

CARATE consortiumHard work of pulling, sawing, cutting, cooking,

weighing, measuring x 21000, analysing, writing…


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

CARATE results

Our calibration data from the

last century:

Tree-ring carbon isotopic ratios

(d13C) in Lapland correlate

strongly (R ~ 0.6-0.7) with

measured Sunshine hours and

Global radiation i.e. Light

Towards understanding the

long chronology…

Helama S., Arppe L., Uusitalo J., Mäkelä H.M., Oinonen

M. & Mielikäinen K. 2016. Agricultural and Forest

Meteorology. DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.06.005. Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

”Mystery cloud” of 536-537ADHistorical evidence

”the sun was dark and its darkness lasted for eighteen months…light was

only a feeble shadow”

John of Ephesos on Mesopotamia

”…the air is dense of rising moisture – as happened…for a nearly a

whole year as Belisarius held the consular office…”

John Lydos on Constantinople

Fimbulvinter of 3 years in Nordic sagas, ”one lived without Sun, without

Moon…” in Finnish folklore

after Rampino et al 1988. Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci 16: 73-99; Keys, D P 2000. Catastrophe: an investigation into the

origins of the modern world. ISBN 0-345-40876-4.; Gräslund, B. & Price, N. 2012. Antiquity 86: 428-443.; Arjava A 2005.

Dumbarton Oak Papers 59: 73-94.; SKVR search 11/2013, http://dbgw.finlit.fi/skvr/.


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Climate anomaly of 536-542 ADCARATE case study on volcanic or extraterrestrial origin

Cold period of several years in

536 - 542AD based on tree-

ring widths: real Fimbulvinter?

Anomaly seen throughout the

northern Hemisphere

A multi-proxy analysis based on

tree-ring widths, d13C values

and 14C data400 500 600 700

10

15

20

542 AD536 AD

Ju

ly m

ean

te

mp

era

ture

(C

)

year (cal AD)

535 AD

Baillie M.G.L.(1994) Dendrochronology raises question about the nature of the AD 536 dust veil event. Holocene 4:212-217.

Larsen, L. B., et al. (2008) New ice core evidence for a volcanic cause of the A.D. 536 dust veil, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L04708,

Helama S., Macias Fauria M., Mielikäinen K., Timonen M. & Eronen M. 2010: Sub-Milankovitch solar forcing of past climates: mid

and late Holocene perspectives. Geological Society of America Bulletin 122 (11/12): 1981-1988.


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Tree-rings record the climate anomalyd13C, d14C and ring-widths from Lapland

520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570

-30

-28

-26

-24

-22

-20

d13C

(‰)

year(AD)

CA02

530 535 540 545 550

8

12

16

20

530 535 540 545 550

-28

-27

-26

-25

-24

-23

-22

530 535 540 545 550

-32

-28

-24

-20

-16

-12

T(°

C)

reconstructed TJuly

d13C

(‰)

average d13

CCA01-CA03

d14C

(‰)

year(AD)

radiocarbon concentration

Helama, Arppe, Mielikäinen, Uusitalo and Oinonen

2016. To be published

d13C (and d14C) sensitive to PAR (Loader et

al 2013. QSR 62: 97-113) → consistent with light

intensity loss due to the cloud → primary

productivity of the Past?Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Cyclic d13C records11-year solar cycle and North Atlantic Oscillation

Ogurtsov M, Sonninen E, Hilasvuori E, Koudriavtsev I, Dergachev V, Jungner H 2011. Variations in tree ring stable

isotope records from northern Finland and their possible connection to solar activity. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar -

Terrestrial Physics 73(2-3): 383-387. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2010.02.020; this work

0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6

0,00

0,02

0,04

0,06

0,08

0,10

3.6 yr, NAO

Frequency

Pow

er

density

10.5 yr

CARATE calibration data 1800-1950, CA14 Stable carbon isotopic spectra

reveal also cyclic behavior

3.6 year → NAO

10.5 year → 11-yr solar cycle

Isotopic signals contains

multitude of

environmental information


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

14C provides activity of the Sundendrochronology provides the timeline (5-10 years)

If Sun is active, the

interplanetary magnetic

field between the Sun and

Earth is strong

This bends the galactic

cosmic rays from the

atmosphere → 14C content

decreases

Little Ice Age is opposite:

low activity of Sun implied

high 14C production

1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Wolf minimum

Spörer minimum

14C

(‰)

years (cal AD)

Reimer P J et al. 2004.

IntCal04 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0-26 cal kyr BP.

Radiocarbon 46: pp. 1029-1058.

Maunder minimum

Little Ice Age


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Drastic increase of 14C in AD775 Sun, supernova or comet?

Drastic increase of 14C in

tree rings at AD775 was

recently found in Japan

Proposed origin of the

event: Sun, supernova g

rays, cometary impact

If Sun is to blame, there

should be latitudinal

dependence since vertical

cutoff rigidity769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780

-30

-20

-10

0

10

14C

(‰)

year(AD)Miyake F et al. 2012. Nature, 486, pp. 240–242.


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

775 AD anomaly in Arctic treesPolar enhancement?

Miyake F et al. 2012. Nature, 486, pp. 240–242. Uusitalo J, MSc thesis 2016.

Our data: visible in Arctic

tree-rings with significantly

higher intensity: polar

enhancement of the signal

confirmed

Event strength clearly larger

than the largest Solar Proton

Event of historical era →

significant consequences on

present day societies, if

again


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Estimating the origin of carbon Human bone collagen d13C & d15N

23.2.2017 53

Öland: Eriksson G et al 2008. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 27: 520–543; Östergötland: Lindberg T 2009. Master thesis

The Archaeological Research Laboratory 2009 Stockholm University; Sigtuna: Kjellström A et al 2009. Journal of Archaeological

Science 36: 2689–2699; Gotland: Kosiba S et al 2007. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 26: 394–411.

Carbon and nitrogen stable

isotope ratios stored in

human bones provide means

to model diets of individuals

-30 -28 -26 -24 -22 -20 -18 -16 -14 -12 -10

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

TERRESTRIAL

FRESHWATER

d15N

(‰)

d13

C(‰)

Smörkullen, Östergötland

Sigtuna, Sweden

Zvejnieki, Latvia

Ridanas, Gotland

Köpingsvik, Öland

Västerbjers, Gotland

MARINE

Kivutkalns individual


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Reservoir effect correctionsFuture finetuning of 14C datings

23.2.2017 54

Fernandes R et al 2014. Plos One

If an individual has obtained

carbon from other reserve

than atmosphere (aquatic

sources), the conversion to

calendar years based on

atmospheric data does not

hold

Dietary modelling provide

means to correct the 14C

dates

Boosted during the recent

years only → gain more

importance in the future

Kivutkalns individual


2016, Mainz


Present (and future) environment and 14C

12C - 98.89%, 13C - 1.11% 14C -0.00000000010%

Circulation of carbon

within Earth defines

our future

Release of carbon

storages to

atmosphere increase

the amount of

greenhouse gases,

such as CO2 and CH4

14C (and 13C, 12C)

provides access to

characterize these

flows


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Carbon sinks at Amazonas Past 14C for the future

O.Lähteenoja, K.Ruokolainen, L.Schulman, M.Oinonen 2009. Amazonian peatlands: an ignored C sink and

potential source. Global Change Biology 15: 2311–2320.

Carbon sinks exists in Amazonas and the peatlands larger than previously

thought: deforestation would result in huge C load into atmosphere


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Soil carbon decompositionto CO2

Carbon sinks and sources

Molecular sieve methodology developed for

universal sampling of CO2 (Hämäläinen et al

2009, Palonen&Oinonen 2013): presently the best

approach worldwide

14C due to atmospheric nuclear tests used

as timemark for soil carbon fractions

Different soil fractions react differently

against global warming: should be taken

into account in climate models

Palonen, V, Oinonen, M 2013. Molecular Sieves in 14CO2 Sampling and Handling. Radiocarbon 55: 416-420 and Yle Prisma

9.2.2010 and Karhu K et al 2010. Temperature sensitivity of soil carbon fractions in boreal forest soil. Ecology 91(2): 370-376

and Hilasvuori, E et al 2013. Temperature sensitivity of decomposition in a peat profile. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 67: 47-

54.

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

1,0

1,2

1,4

1,6

1,8

2,0

2,2

Fra

ctio

n m

od

ern

Calendar year

Levin I and Kromer B. 2004. Radiocarbon 46:pp.1261-1272

Radiocarbon content in the atmosphere as fraction modern FM


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Since half-life of 14C is 5730

years, fossil material does

not contain 14C anymore

Oldest measurable samples

are typically ~50 000 years

old

Modern biogenic material

has the present atmospheric

concentration of 14C

58

Fossils do not contain 14C…but biogenics do


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Bio/fossil –ratio measurements14C applications for our future

Oinonen M et al 2010, Hämäläinen K et al 2007, ASTM D6866-12, Supported by TEKES (Biocarbon

1,2; CO2-SERVICE, BioMonitor)

After periods of a) 200 000 years(!) of bioeconomy and b) 300 years of

fossil economy, society is turning back to bioeconomy in its attempt to

replace fossil materials by biogenic ones

“There exists an unequivocal method for distinguishing between carbonaceous

material arising from biological sources and that from fossil fuels such as coal,

oil, and natural gas. This method is based on the carbon-14 content of the living

materials.” Clayton G D, Arnold J R, Patty F A 1955. Science 122: pp. 751-753

14C content of fossil material is ~0 → if 14C content of biobased material

is known, the biobased fraction can be determined by measuring the 14C

concentration


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Liquid fuel biofractionmeasurements

Future of the Earth

Methods to measure bio/fossil

fuel ratios from liquid fuels and

flue gases(Oinonen M et al 2010, Hämäläinen K et al 2007)

Beyond the standardization:

faster, more reproducible and

more user-friendly compared

to standard methods(ASTM D6866-12)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Me

asu

red

bio

-%, C

TC

Weighed bio-%

R2 = 0.999

= 0.11

R2 = 0.999

= 0.15

CTC

Me

asu

red

bio

-%, E

A

EA

Fraction of biogenic carbon can be determined by measuring amount

of 14C


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Gaseous fuel biofractionmeasurements

Setup

Oinonen M, Palonen V, Uusitalo J. 2015. Biofraction measurements of methane for environmental and metrological

applications. Radiocarbon conference, Dakar, Senegal, November 2015

Catalytic combustion of CH4 combined with molecular sieve trapping of

resulting CO2


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Gaseous fuel biofractionmeasurements

Results

Oinonen M, Palonen V, Uusitalo J. 2015. Biofraction measurements of methane for environmental and metrological

applications. Radiocarbon conference, Dakar, Senegal, November 2015 and to be published 2016.

First 5 methane biofraction

measurements → immediate

success

Results within industrial

standard (ASTM D6866-12)

Allows for characterization of

biogas/natural gas mixtures

(100% CH4) and field

measurements (<1% CH4)


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Soil carbon decomposition to CH4Carbon sinks and sources

Portable (semi…) setup allows for field collections of CH4 → Arctic

methane emissions due to permafrost melting?Oinonen M, Palonen V, Uusitalo J. 2015. Biofraction measurements of methane for environmental and metrological

applications. Radiocarbon conference, Dakar, Senegal, November 2015

Palonen V. ECAART 2016 conference.


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Summary & future

I hope I have provided you a view that radiocarbon measurements

are not only for dating of archaeological finds

They, particularly supplemented by stable isotopic measurements, contribute

in understanding the carbon circulation throughout the carbon cycle

Future: 1) Bayesian time spectra and data mining based on archaeological,

scientific, genetic and even linguistic multiproxy data

2) Influence of carbon origin on 14C chronologies (reservoir effects)

3) Biofraction measurements proceed towards Ecolabel to give a consumer

the power to choose whether to use fossil or biogenic product

Thank you for your attention!


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Early urbanization of TurkuWiggle matching on Aboa Vetus museum

65

Wood can be dated

by coupling multiple14C dates & order &

time difference

Narrowing the

calendar year

probability

distributions by factor

of 5-10

Oinonen, M, Hilasvuori, E, Mehtonen, H, Uotila, K & Zetterberg, P 2013, 'On the eve of urbanization: Bayesian model dating

for medieval Turku' Radiocarbon, Vuosikerta / volyymi 55, Nro 2-3, Sivut 1265-1277., 10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16244

Markku Oinonen / Quantifying the past / Natural

Sciences

www.luomus.fi

Early urbanization of Turku5 layers, 11 dates from Aboa Vetus museum

66

Early urbanization

of Turku studied

with Bayesian

dating model

Overcomes the 14th

century challenges

by narrowing the

calendar year

probability

distributions by

factor of 5-10

M. Oinonen, E. Hilasvuori,H. Mehtonen,K. Uotila,P. Zetterberg. 2013. ON THE EVE OF URBANIZATION

– BAYESIAN MODEL DATING FOR MEDIEVAL TURKU. Accepted for publication in Radiocarbon.


Sciences

www.luomus.fi

Background radiation

ionizes mineral crystals

The ejected charges are

trapped in potential wells of

crystal defects



67

Luminescence datingLong time ago…

www.luomus.fi

Our ancestors have a dinner

at a fireplace

Heat brings in excess of

energy and empty the traps

→ luminescence light is

emitted

68



Luminescence datingHave a dinner…

www.luomus.fi

Fireplace is found after a

long period of time…

The traps have been

meanwhile filled and their

amount corresponds to the

absorbed radiation dose

during that long period of

time

69

Graphic: H.Bonner, Design: M.

Oinonen for

Elämän Historia-exhibition /

LUOMUS

Luminescence datingFireplace is found…

www.luomus.fi

Excess of energy (heat,

light) is again given for the

mineral grains

→ amount of emitted

luminescence light

(paleodose) is measured

Dose rate is measured on

samples and/or in the field

70



Luminescence datingIn the laboratory…

www.luomus.fi

Luminescence datingMore scientific explanation…

Aitken M J 1998, An introduction to optical dating,

Oxford Science Publications.

Ionization by

radiation

L

T

E

hole

electron conduction band

valence band

1) Irradiation 2) Storage 3) Eviction

light,

heat

light

71

Measured from sample

and/or from field

www.luomus.fi

Luminescence datingSummary

1) Paleodose measurement by luminescence technique

2) Radiation dose rate measurements (alfa, beta, gamma, cosmic)

Typically 5-10% accuracies obtained

Range 50-300 000 a

Datable events: manufacturing of pottery, heating of fireplaces,

sediment layers (aeolian(airborne) or alluvial(water) sand)

www.luomus.fi

210Pb datingdecay clock

210Pb due to decay chain of 238U

210Pb integrated in silicates and

precipitates in sediments

If feeding from decay chain of 238U is measured

→

Remaining 210Pb decays

according to its T1/2 (22,3 a)

Amount left provides info on

sedimentation rates of the last

100-200 years

http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/nudat2/

www.luomus.fi

Radiometric datingsBasics

Naturally occurring background radioactivities can be exploited in

dating studies provided that some prerequisities are fulfilled

The most common (40K, U-series) are also the ones most used in

radiometric datings

The longer the T1/2, the older ages could be determined

Production continues by cosmic rays

→ production of cosmogenic isotopes

→ plants, sediments, glaciers, lithosphere ...

www.luomus.fi

Ice age in Svalbard14C & Luminescence

Courtesy of Kaakinen A, Salonen V-P, Department of Geology, University of Helsinki

Expeditions following the

footsteps of Nordic pioneers

on Nordaustlandet, Svalbard

(2007-2010)

Aim to better understanding of

the region where the

topography and sedimentary

environment resemble those

of Finland during the

Weichselian glacial stage:

120 000 – 10 000 BC

www.luomus.fi

3/11 & 3/14 2/7 & 2/8 5/27 & 5/28

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

ag

e(c

al B

P)

sample ID

OSL: grey14

C: black

Ice age in SvalbardLuminescence vs. 14C

A.Kaakinen, V.-P.Salonen, F.Kubischta, K.Eskola, M.Oinonen 2009. Weichselian glacial stage in

Murchisonfjorden, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard. Boreas 38: 718-729.

www.luomus.fi

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

am

ou

nt o

f 1

4C

da

tes

AD

Archaeological radiocarbon datesLast 2000 years

Based on Oinonen M, Pesonen P,

Tallavaara M 2010. Radiocarbon 52: pp. 393-407.

Interestingly, minimum

between the warm

periods at ~600AD

Coincidence?

Southern

Ostrobothnia known

to have shortage of

finds

Roman warm

period

Medieval warm

period i.e. MCA


Sciences

www.luomus.fi

Temporal distribution of 14C dates14C in Eastern Fennoscandian archaeology

Tallavaara M, Pesonen P, Oinonen M 2010. Prehistoric population history in eastern

Fennoscandia, Journal of Archaeological Science 37: pp. 251-260.

Oinonen M, Pesonen P, Tallavaara M 2010. Archaeological radiocarbon dates for studying the

population history in eastern Fennoscandia, Radiocarbon 52: pp. 393-407


Sciences

www.luomus.fi

Early ceramics in easternFennoscandia

Bayesian model dates of food crust samples attached to pots

Pesonen P, Carpelan C, Oinonen M, Onkamo P 2012. EARLY SUBNEOLITHIC CERAMIC SEQUENCES IN EASTERN

FENNOSCANDIA – A BAYESIAN APPROACH. Radiocarbon 54: pp. 661-676.

d13C values carry information of

marine/terrestrial nature of samples

Correction of marine effects makes Arctic

Sea dates more reasonable


Sciences

www.luomus.fi

Bayesian analysis in Oxcal 4.1Bronk Ramsey C 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates.

Radiocarbon 51(1): pp. 337-360.

80

Ordering and time difference of events can be exploited within Bayesian

frameworkPlot()

{

D_Sequence( "All")

{

First( );

R_Date("Hela-2179", 621, 29);

Gap( 20);

R_Date("Hela-2177", 640, 31);

Gap( 10);

R_Date("Hela-2176", 632, 30);

Gap( 10);

R_Date("Hela-2175", 691, 30);

Gap( 10);

R_Date("Hela-2174", 678, 28);

Gap( 10);

R_Date("Hela-2173", 653, 30);

Gap( 10);

Date("Felling date");

};

}; Probability of impossible is zero…Markku Oinonen / Quantifying the past / Natural

Sciences

www.luomus.fi

TL, sto

nes

OSL,

san

dC-1

4

land

uplift

cera

mics

-10000

-9000

-8000

-7000

-6000

-5000

-4000

-3000

-2000

-1000

0

1000

2000

Ag

e (

ca

l yr)

Dating method

Eskola K O, Okkonen J, Jungner H 2003,

Luminescence dating of a coastal Stone Age

dwelling place in Northern Finland, Quaternary

Science Reviews 22, pp 1287-1290.

Kastelli, Jätinkirkko

Giant’s Church in KastelliLuminescence and 14C in archaeology

Giant’s church

(Jätinkirkko) in Kastelli,

Pattijoki has been

considered to be a

calendar (Ridderstad et al)

OSL and 14C datings

reveal its use to a period

3000-2000 cal BC i.e.

5000-4000 years ago

Te same time mammoths

wandered in Wrangel…


Water burial of 100 humansLevänluhta, Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland

• 1km from Kyrö river, presently in middle of a field

•1674 AD Isokyrö vicar Alftanus: human bones seen coming from the

spring ”throughout the times”

• 1886, 1912, 1982-1984 AD: bonesof almost 100 humans excavated

• presently a spring with iron-containing reddish water

• present archaeological dating to 4th-8th centuries AD (Wessman

2009)

Wessman A 2009. LEVÄNLUHTA – A PLACE OF PUNISHMENT, SACRIFICE OR JUST A COMMON CEMETERY?

Fennoscandia archaeologica XXVI: pp. 81-105 and references therein.

Isokyrö,

Southern

Ostrobothnia,

FinlandLevänluhta

Kyrö river

1 km

Markku Oinonen , Radiocarbon and Diet 2014

www.luomus.fi

Witnessing the post-glacial land uplift

23.2.2017 83

• Post-glacial land uplift has been

(still is) extensive in

Ostrobothnia

• Land rises still ~1cm/year

(eventually there will be a

isthmus connecting Finland and

Sweden)

• This has had significant

consequences on peoples lives

• Levänluhta people have

witnessed ~4 meters of land

uplift during the 4th-8th centurieshttp://walkfinland.blogspot.fi/2012/07/korsholm-bjorkoby-

bodvattnet-nature.html


www.luomus.fi

• 536 AD & 540’s: Cold years of Fimbulvinter?

• Anomaly observed in tree rings throughout

the northern Hemisphere

• Levänluhta people have witnessed the largest

climatic anomaly of the last 2000 years

• SA CARATE 2011-2015: tree-ring d13C

evidences a loss of light intensity

23.2.2017 84

Witnessing the climatic anomaly of 536AD

Baillie M G L 1994. Holocene 4:212-217 and refs therein.

Oinonen M & Mielikäinen K 2011. Funding decisions #251287 and 251441 for CARATE project by the Academy of

Finland.


520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570

-30

-28

-26

-24

-22

-20

d13C(

‰)

year(AD)

CA02

www.luomus.fi

Time dependence of isotopic values through 536AD

23.2.2017 85

350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750

-24

-22

-20

-18

-16

350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750

10

11

12

13

14

15

d13C

d15N

year

• Tvauri: crop failures and

demographic catastrophes in

Estonia

• Gräslund: widespread

disruption of settlement and

population displacement in Sweden

• Higher isotope ratios after

536AD indicate pronounced use

of marine resources → towards

more mobile lifestyle?

Tvauri A 2014. The impact of the climate catastrophe of 536-537AD in Estonia and neighboring areas. Estonian Journal of

Archaeology 18(1): 30-56.

Gräslund B and Price N 2012. Twilight of the gods? The “dust veil event” of AD 536 in critical perspective. Antiquity 86: 428-443.


536AD

www.luomus.fi

Labview controlled → process parameters stored

Elemental Analyzer option → fast combustion

Molecular sieve option for CO2 samples

Increases the throughput of 14C-AMS measurements

Quality control by Sixth International Radiocarbon

Intercomparison 2014

HASE – Helsinki Adaptive SampleprEparation line2nd generation 14C process

Palonen, V, Pesonen, A, Herranen, T, Tikkanen, P, Oinonen, M 2013, HASE – The Helsinki adaptive sample preparation

line, Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: 294. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2012.08.056

AMS

Markku Oinonen / ICOS 2014

Aerosols

Soil CO2

Biofractions

www.luomus.fi

neutrons

protons

Mass known

Half-life knownnothing known

s process

stellar burning

Big Bang

p process

Supernovae

Cosmic Rays

H(1)

Fe (26)

Sn (50)

Pb (82)

Origin of Elements


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Cosmogenic isotopes

IsotopeTerrestrial targets

atmosp. / lithosp.

T1/2 (a)

10Be N, O / O, Mg, Si, Fe 1,5 × 106

14C N, O / O, Mg, Si, Fe 5730

22Na Ar / Mg, Al, Si, Fe 2,61

26Al Ar / Cl, K, Ca, Fe 7,16 × 105

32Si Ar / Cl, K, Ca, Fe 276

36Cl Ar / Cl, K, Ca, Fe 3,08 × 105

39Ar Ar / K, Ca, Fe 269

41Ca Kr / Ca, Ti, Fe 1,03 × 106

81Kr Kr / Rb, Sr, Zr 2,13 × 105

129I Xe / Te, Ba, Ce, La 1,57 × 107

Wide variety of half-lives → long time span of usage

Typically trace elements → Measurable by accelerator mass

spectrometry (AMS)Markku Oinonen / Natural Sciences for Euroschool

2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS)stable isotopes / methods

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/ofr01-257/images/figure1.gif

Since stable isotopes are plenty,

IRMS measures ion current

For instance 13C/12C

with delta-notation (in ‰)

Carbonates → d13C ~ 0 ‰

Plants → d13C ~ -25 ‰


2016, Mainz

d13C = (13C/12Csample – 13C/12Cstandard) / 13C/12Cstandard × 1000

www.luomus.fi

Uranium-series dating (of closed systems)accumulation clock

Multiple possibilities within the chain

U is soluble in water, but Th not → All Th is

radiogenic in material precipitated from water (down

to 500000 years back)

U in ZrSiO4, but Pb rejected → All Pb is radiogenic

(down to 4,5 billion yrs)

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry TIMS vrt AMS

for 14C (NOT TRACE ELEMENT!)

U/Th: corals, mollusk shells, egg shells (carbonates),

speleothems; U/Pb: age of earth, rocks

238U

234Th

234Pa

234U

230Th

a

b-

b-

a

a

235U

231Th

231Pa

a

b-

a


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

40K-40Ar datingaccumulation clock

40K (T1/2 = 1,26 × 109 years) one of the most common radioactive

elements in nature (clay, minerals)

Ar escapes from molten rock

Solid rock: the ratio between 40K and 40Ar is related to the time

elapsed since when system was closed

Vulcanic activities, archaeological deposits in Olduvai etc

McDougall, I.; Harrison, T. M. 1999. Geochronology and thermochronology by the 40Ar/39Ar

method. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-510920-1.

Tattersall, I. 1995. The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human

Evolution. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-506101-2.


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Age of the EarthUranium-series dating

Assumption: the Earth and the

rest Solar System formed at the

same time

The first: U/Pb ratio measured

from the The Canyon Diablo

meteorite fallen to Earth

All Pb due to decay of U series

4,54 × 109 years, confirmed by

hundreds of later datings

Patterson C 1956. Age of meteorites and the earth. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 10:

230-237.


2016, Mainz


Operating within life-supportingcycles (C, N, H2O)

12C - 98.89%, 13C - 1.11% 14C -0.00000000010%

Operating within

major life-supporting

cycles (carbon,

nitrogen, water)

Stable isotopes

provide access to

origin of carbon and

processes within the

cycle

Radiocarbon provides

timeline


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Mammoths in Finland14C in paleontology

http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/mammutit/tietoa/suomi.htm

10 findings of

mammoth remains

from Finland

Dated ca. 32000 – 23500 BP

→

Before the Last Glacial Maximum

around 18000 BP Finland was

icefree with mammoths

wandering


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

Mammoths in Wrangel island 2000 BC14C in paleontology

S. L. VARTANYAN, Kh. A. ARSLANOV, T. V. TERTYCHNAYA and S. B. CHERNOV, Radiocarbon Dating

Evidence for Mammoths on Wrangel Island, Arctic Ocean, until 2000 BC, Radiocarbon Volume 37,

Number 1, 1995, pp. 1-6

Remains of miniature

mammoths discovered from

Wrangel island

Radiocarbon measurements

reveal the ages of around

4000 years only

Humans known to inhabit

Wrangel ca. 1700 BC

→ last mammoth hunters ?


2016, Mainz

www.luomus.fi

1. Carbon dioxide in air:

isotopic ratio δ13C ~ -8

‰

2. CO2 to cells: diffusion is

an example causing

kinetic fractionation,

since lighter isotope (12C)

moves faster than a heavy

one (13C)

3. Sugars produced in complicated

reactions through photosynthesis

4. Sugars used to form

lignin, cellulose and

eventually the plant

structure

CO2

Through mass-dependent

effects, the terrestrial plants

contain less 13C than

atmosphere: δ13C ~ -25 ‰

96

First step of the food chain12,13,14C from air to plants

Figure: Wikipedia Commons

Markku Oinonen / Baltic Bioarchaeology, Riga 16th

May, 2014

www.luomus.fi

Climatic reconstructions: tree ringsdendrochronology provides the timeline (1 year)

Tree-ring width -based climatic

reconstructions use

dendrochronology to define

timeline

Pointer years of volcanic

activity, comets, unusual local

climate400 500 600 700

10

15

20

542 AD536 AD

Ju

ly m

ean

te

mp

era

ture

(C

)

year (cal AD)

535 AD

Helama S., Macias Fauria M., Mielikäinen K., Timonen M. & Eronen M. 2010: Sub-Milankovitch solar forcing of

past climates: mid and late Holocene perspectives. Geological Society of America Bulletin 122 (11/12): 1981-

1988.


2016, Mainz

research applications of stable and radioactive isotopes · 2017. 2. 23. · both radioactive and...

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