Historical Oceanic Radiocarbon Measurements from 1955-1974

Radiocarbon measurements in dissolved inorganic carbon from global ocean samples. Approximately 1500 observations were compiled from published articles by researchers like Bien, Broecker, Fairhall, Young, and Linick. Data collection occurred between 1955 and 1974.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of Δ14C using Latitude and Longitude columns to map historical ocean ventilation.
• Investigate depth profiles of radiocarbon by correlating Δ14C values with the Depth (m) column.
• Calibrate ocean carbon cycle models using the Dissolved Inorganic Carbon concentration (µmol/kg) and Salinity fields.
• Assess data reliability for specific cruises by filtering records using the Cruise Name and Source columns.
• Study temporal trends in surface ocean Δ14C by analyzing the Date column against surface sample measurements.

Strengths

• Approximately 1500 individual observations provide a foundational historical record.
• Covers all major ocean basins, offering broad spatial representation.
• Includes 14 measured variables per sample, such as location, depth, temperature, and isotopic ratios.
• Data spans a 20-year period from 1955 to 1974, capturing a key era of nuclear testing.

Limitations

• Sample size of ~1500 is modest for global oceanographic analysis.
• Contains known data quality issues, such as potentially unreliable δ13C values from the Broecker et al. 1960 source.
• Temporally stale, with the last update in 1974, limiting modern applicability.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI Accession 0157456).

Collection Method

Compiled and digitized from published scientific articles (Bien et al. 1960, 1965; Broecker et al. 1960; Fairhall and Young 1985; Linick 1978).

Time Range

1955 to 1974

Freshness

1974-12-31

Geography

Global, covering all major ocean basins.