Measurement of Small Volume Oceanic 14C Samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A technique for 14C measurement of small volume (0.5L) oceanic water samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is described. Samples were taken from a CTD/rosette system used for standard hydrographic work. After CO2 extraction and target preparation, the samples were measured at the Zürich tandem accelerator facility. On the basis of 14C data from samples collected on a station in the northern Weddell Sea, the precision of the measurements is estimated to ca +/- 8 per mil. The error in the present AMS results is dominated by the statistical error in 14C detection. From results of duplicate targets, it is concluded that a precision of +/- 5 per mil can be reached. The 14C data are discussed in relation to the Weddell Sea hydrography.