14C dating of terrestrial moss in Tern Lake deposits, Antarctica

Abstract

Accurate radiocarbon ages were obtained from terrestrial moss from two drill holes in Tern Lake deposits, Antarctica, using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The results show that the lake deposits have been accumulating since the end of the last glacial epoch ca. 12,600 cal BP at the rate of 0.13-1.1 mm a-1. We discuss the validity of 14C ages of Antarctic lake deposits, with respect to the latitude effect of 14C productivity, the reservoir effect, the environment effect and the hard-water effect.