scholarly journals Dendrochronology and Radiocarbon Dating: The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research Connection

Radiocarbon ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 373-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W Leavitt ◽  
Bryant Bannister
Keyword(s):  
Head Start ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Sample Treatment ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Bristlecone Pine ◽  
Early Testing ◽  
The University ◽  
Relationship Of

The field of dendrochronology had a developmental “head start” of at least several decades relative to the inception of radiocarbon dating in the late 1940s, but that evolution was sufficiently advanced so that unique capabilities of tree-ring science could assure success of the 14C enterprise. The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (LTRR) at the University of Arizona played a central role in the cross-pollination of these disciplines by providing the first wood samples of exactly known age for the early testing and establishment of the “Curve of Knowns” by Willard Libby. From the 1950s into the early 1980s, LTRR continued to contribute dated wood samples (bristlecone pine and other wood species) to 14C research and development, including the discovery and characterization of de Vries/Suess “wiggles,” calibration of the 14C timescale, and a variety of tests to understand the natural variability of 14C and to refine sample treatment for maximum accuracy. The long and varied relationship of LTRR with 14C initiatives has continued with LTRR contributions to high-resolution studies through the 1990s and systematic efforts now underway that may eventually extend the bristlecone pine chronology back beyond its beginning 8836 yr ago as of 2009. This relationship has been mutualistic such that a half-century ago the visibility and stature of LTRR and dendrochronology were also elevated through their association with 14C-allied “hard sciences.”

Radiocarbon Dating and Intercomparison of Some Early Historical Radiocarbon Samples

Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J T Jull ◽  
C L Pearson ◽  
R E Taylor ◽  
J R Southon ◽  
G M Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The University ◽  
Good Agreement ◽  
Made In

AbstractWe performed a new series of measurements on samples that were part of early measurements on radiocarbon (14C) dating made in 1948–1949. Our results show generally good agreement to the data published in 1949–1951, despite vast changes in technology, with only two exceptions where there was a discrepancy in the original studies. Our new measurements give calibrated ages that overlap with the known ages. We dated several samples at four different laboratories, and so we were also able to make a small intercomparison at the same time. In addition, new measurements on samples from other Egyptian materials used by Libby and co-workers were made at UC Irvine. Samples of tree rings used in the original studies (from Broken Flute Cave and Centennial Stump) were obtained from the University of Arizona Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research archive and remeasured. New data were compared to the original studies and other records.

scholarly journals La Jolla Measurements of Radiocarbon in Tree-Ring Dated Wood

Radiocarbon ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
H E Suess
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Functional Dependence ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Pine Wood ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Bristlecone Pine ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
La Jolla ◽  
The University

In 1969, at the Nobel Symposium on “Radiocarbon Variations and Absolute Chronology” in Uppsala, a curve was presented that illustrated the functional dependence of measured conventional radiocarbon dates on true historical ages of wood samples (Suess, 1971). The curve was derived from the results of La Jolla measurements of radiocarbon in bristlecone pine wood dendrochronologically dated by and obtained from Professor C W Ferguson of the University of Arizona (Ferguson, 1968). The curve was intended to be adequate for deriving calibrated radiocarbon dates and also for allowing fairly reliable estimates of the accuracy of the absolute dates obtained in this manner. The basis for the validity of this calibration is the well known fact that, for all practical purposes, wood samples that had grown at the same time show the same radiocarbon content. However, the reverse is not always true: Wood samples showing the same radiocarbon content do not necessarily have the same age because of the windings and steps of the curve (Stuiver and Suess, 1966).

The 14 C record in bristlecone pine wood of the past 8000 years based on the dendrochronology of the late C. W. Ferguson

1990 ◽  
Vol 330 (1615) ◽  
pp. 403-412 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
General Trend ◽  
The Past ◽  
Secular Variations ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Geophysical Parameter ◽  
Bristlecone Pine ◽  
Fourier Spectra ◽  
Pinus Aristata ◽  
The University

When, in 1950, Willard Libby and his coworkers obtained their first radiocarbon ( 14 C) dates, C. W. Ferguson at the University of Arizona Tree Ring Laboratory was working on establishing a continuous tree ring series for the newly discovered bristlecone pine Pinus aristata . Before his untimely death in 1986, he had extended the series nearly 8000 years into the past. From the Ferguson series I obtained for 14 C determinations wood samples grown at various times. Also, two other laboratories obtained such samples. For B.C. times in particular, our measured 14 C-values that deviated consistently from those calculated from tree rings, and the deviations increased with age. This general trend was observed by other laboratories, but the presence of deviations from these trends, of the so-called ‘wiggles’, was questioned by other workers. To me these wiggles indicated the existence of a most interesting geophysical parameter valid for the whole terrestrial atmosphere. Fourier spectra obtained at my request by Kruse in 1972, and by Neftel, demonstrated the consistency of the results, and supported my contention that the secular variations of 14 C in atmospheric CO 2 are related to variations of solar activity.

scholarly journals Timothy W Linick October 29, 1946–June 4, 1989

Radiocarbon ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. iii-iii
Author(s):  
Ajt Jull ◽  
Hans E Suess
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Accelerator Facility ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
The University

Timothy Weiler Linick died on June 4th, 1989. He was a dedicated researcher, and an important part of the NSF Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Analysis at the University of Arizona. He will be remembered for his care and attention to details, especially in the calculation and reporting of radiocarbon dates. He made important contributions to the fields of oceanography and tree-ring calibration of the 14C time scale.

Determination of the Age of Swiss Lake Dwellings as an Example of Dendrochronologically-Calibrated Radiocarbon Dating

1966 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1173-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. Ferguson ◽  
B. huber ◽  
H. E. Suess
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Standard Error ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Tree Ring Chronology ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Pine Wood ◽  
Bristlecone Pine ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Swiss Lake

Comparison of the radiocarbon content of a series of samples of dendrochronologically dated bristlecone pine wood with that from trees for which a so-called floating tree-ring chronology has been established makes it possible to determine an empirical age for this floating tree-ring series based upon the age of the wood used for comparison. For the case of the Swiss Lake Dwellers, the difference between conventional radiocarbon dates and the age values determined in this manner amounts to about 800 years. The age of the floating chronology was determined within a standard error of less than 40 years. The measurements indicate that the dwellings were constructed during the 38th century B. C.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating With the Quantulus in an Underground Counting Laboratory: Performance and Background Sources

Radiocarbon ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (03) ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Kalin ◽  
Austin Long
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Laboratory Performance ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Counting Chamber ◽  
The University

The University of Arizona Radiocarbon Laboratory purchased a state-of-the-art LKB Quantulus LSC and placed it into a new underground counting chamber. We have investigated the performance of the Quantulus in this setting comparing different vial types, checking background sources and experimenting with sample size.

scholarly journals Study of Bone Radiocarbon Dating Accuracy at the University of Arizona NSF Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Analysis

Radiocarbon ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W Stafford ◽  
A J T Jull ◽  
Klaus Brendel ◽  
Raymond C Duhamel ◽  
Douglas Donahue
Keyword(s):  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Fossil Bone ◽  
Accelerator Facility ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Calcified Tissue ◽  
The University ◽  
Original Organic Matter ◽  
Age Determinations ◽  
The Ideal

Bone would seem to be an ideal material for14C dating because this calcified tissue contains 20 weight per cent protein. Fossil bone, however, can lose most of its original organic matter and frequently contains contaminants having different14C ages. Numerous14C dates on bone have been available to archaeologists and geologists but many age determinations have been inaccurate despite over 30 years of research in the field following the first14C age determinations on bone (Arnold & Libby, 1951). This situation remained unchanged until simple pretreatments were abandoned and more bone-specific fractions were isolated. The ideal solution is to use accelerator mass spectrometer14C dating, which facilitates the use of milligram-sized amounts of highly purified compounds—an approach impossible to pursue using conventional14C decay-counting methods.

scholarly journals Networks for Helioseismic Observations

1990 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 265-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Hill
Keyword(s):  
Network Performance ◽  
Frequency Measurement ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Mode Identification ◽  
Global Oscillation Network Group ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
The University ◽  
Relationship Of

AbstractHelioseismology from a single ground-based observatory is severely compromised by the diurnal rising and setting of the Sun. This causes sidelobes to appear in the helioseismic power spectrum at multiples of ± 11.57 μHz from each solar line, contaminating the spectrum and rendering mode identification and frequency measurement extremely difficult. The difficulty can be overcome in three ways — observing from a fully sunlit orbit in space, observing from the Polar regions, or observing with a network of stations placed around the Earth. This paper discusses the networks that are either currently in operation or being planned. These include the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) project, the Birmingham network, the IRIS network of the University of Nice, and the SCLERA network of the University of Arizona. The scientific objectives and instrumentation of these networks are briefly described. Theoretical predictions for network performance are compared with actual results. The problem of merging simultaneous data from multiple instruments is discussed, as well as the relationship of the networks with the helioseismology experiments on the SOHO space mission.

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