Regional Sources of Volcanic Carbon Dioxide and Their Influence on 14 C Content of Present-Day Plant Material

Abstract

14 C measurements were made on present-day plant material with short integration times (tree leaves and sprouts) in the Eifel area, western Germany, where ancient volcanism produces gaseous emanations of considerable yield. Plants growing near sources emanating 14 C-free CO 2 show a significant depletion in the period of their growth. The same effect is found in the 14 C content of recent samples from the Thera (Santorini) Archipelago/Greece. This mixing of “dead” CO 2 may lead to pseudo ages in archaeologic or geologic samples of up to 1600 years in samples from the vicinity of CO 2 emanating sources.