Radiocarbon in Annual Coral Rings of Belize and Florida

Abstract

Radiocarbon measurements on a 109-year-old (1868-1977) core of Montastrea annularis coral from Glover Reef, Belize, in the Gulf of Honduras, reveal uptake of fossil fuel CO 2 and bomb 14 C by surface ocean waters. The history of Δ 14 C values revealed by this Belize growth agree remarkably well with results for coral growth from the Florida Straits. It is concluded that these corals are reliable recorders of 14 C concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIOC) in surface waters representative of the Gulf Stream.