Global Production and Decay of Radiocarbon
- 1 January 1989
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Radiocarbon
- Vol. 31 (03) , 697-703
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200012297
Abstract
The production rate of 14C during the Holocene averaged 2.4 ± 0.2 atoms 14C/cme 2 sec. Neutrons produced by galactic cosmic rays account for 90% of the 14C production with the remaining 10% resulting from neutrons produced by protons from solar flares. Production and decay of 14C can be reconciled by including 14C permanently or temporarily stored in sediments. Sedimentary reservoirs contain ca 30% of all terrestrial 14C. The lagoons, bays, marshes and deltas of the coastal wetlands alone account for 12% of the 14C inventory. The capacity of the coastal wetlands to store carbon has become the subject of renewed interest.Keywords
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