Another rapid event in the carbon-14 content of tree rings

Abstract

Previously, we have observed that the atmospheric 14C content measured in tree rings showed a strong increase from AD 774 to 775. Although the cause of this event can be explained by a large solar proton event or a short gamma-ray burst, a more detailed discussion of the cause is difficult because the rate of occurrence of such rapid 14C events remains unknown. Here we report new 14C measurements from AD 822 to 1020, and the discovery of a second rapid increase of 14C content from AD 992 to 993. The 10 Be flux in the Antarctic ice core shows peaks corresponding to these two 14C events. The proportions of flux increase ( 14C/10Be) of the two events are consistent with each other. Therefore, it is highly possible that these events have the same origin. Considering the occurrence rate of 14 C increase events, solar activity is a plausible cause of the 14 C increase events. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.