Open AccessConstructing a database of terrestrial radiocarbon measurements
Author(s) -
Trumbore Susan,
Torn Margaret,
Smith Lydia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2011eo430006
Subject(s) - radiocarbon dating , carbon cycle , soil water , hydrosphere , environmental science , soil carbon , edaphic , physical geography , geology , earth science , soil science , biosphere , geography , paleontology , ecosystem , ecology , biology
Terrestrial Radiocarbon Database Workshop; Berkeley, California, 20–22 July 2011 Soils play a large role in the global carbon (C) cycle, but soil C stocks and dynamics remain highly uncertain. Radiocarbon ( 14 C) observations provide critical information on the rates of exchange of soil C with the atmosphere and hydrosphere and how those rates vary with edaphic (soil‐related) factors and over a range of time scales. For example, the degree to which radio decay has affected 14 C demonstrates the importance of short‐range‐order minerals for stabilizing organic C on millennial time scales in some soils. Time series that track the infiltration of “bomb” 14 C help identify the components of soil C that cycle on decadal to centennial time scales.