14C in speleothems

• Antragsteller: Dr. Bernd Kromer
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Mineralogie, Petrologie und Geochemie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2005 bis 2008
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 16276678

Using the absolute age of speleothem samples from Th/U-dating, we can determine their 14C reservoir age. The 14C reservoir age is controlled mainly by pCO2 in the unsaturated soil zone, the ratio of root respiration (with modern 14C levels) and microbial decomposition of soil organic matter (depleted in 14C due to radioactive decay). The main factors governing soil conditions are soil temperature and precipitation. Hence, variations in the 14C reservoir age provide information on the variability of these two climate variables.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsgruppen
• Teilprojekt zu: FOR 668: Datierte Speläotheme: Archive der Paläoumwelt