Marine reservoir correction in the south of Vietnam estimated from an annually-banded coral

Abstract

We measured radiocarbon in an annually-banded coral core collected from Con Dao Island, Vietnam, 90 km from the mouth of the Mekong River, and estimated the regional correction of the marine reservoir age (AR value). Twelve samples were continuously taken from the annual bands (AD 1949-1960) which were clearly identified under UV light (∼352 nm) as well as by X-radiography. The 14C content of the samples was determined using an accelerator mass spectrometer at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan. Results provide a Δ14C time series showing a relatively steady value of -48.6 ± 4.65‰ for the period of 1949-1955 and an abrupt increase starting from 1956 that indicates a quick response to the atmospheric testing of nuclear bombs. Using the prebomb 14C data, the ΔR value in the south of Vietnam is estimated to be -74 ± 39 yr.