TEMPORAL CHANGES OF THE C-14 RESERVOIR EFFECT IN LAKES

Conventional radiocarbon dates for sediment samples from aquatic syste ms and of coeval terrestrial samples deviate from each other due to th e reservoir effect. The reservoir correction is usually assumed to be constant with time for a specific aquatic system. Our studies confirm that seasonal and secular changes are frequent and are governed by the limnological conditions. Lakes have two principal sources of C-14: at mospheric CO2 and the total dissolved inorganic carbon (TDIC) of the e ntering groundwater and runoff. The former has values of ca. 100 pMC; the latter usually has a C-14 value well below 100 pMC. Atmospheric CO 2 enters the lake by exchange via its surface. The proportions of thes e two kinds of input determine the magnitude of the reservoir correcti on in freshwater lakes. It is mainly a function of the volume/surface ratio of the lake and, consequently a function of the water depth. The surface of lakes with outflow does not change when sedimentation decr eases the depth of the water. The depth of Schleinsee Lake in southern Germany has decreased from 30 to 15 m since ca. 9000 BP. As a result, the reservoir correction has decreased from ca. -1550 to -580 yr. In contrast, the depth of Lake Proscansko in Croatia increased with growt h of the travertine dam and the reservoir correction changed from ca. -1790 to -2650 yr during the last 8800 yr. The largest fluctuations of lake levels occur in closed lakes in arid regions when the climate ch anges from humid to arid and vies versa. As a result, the reservoir co rrection of the C-14 dates for the total organic fraction from Lejia L ake in the Atacama Desert of Chile varied between <-1800 yr and -4700 yr over a period of only 1800 yr between 11,500 and 9700 BP. The corre sponding reservoir correction for the marl fraction is much higher. In summary, accurate and reliable C-14 dating of lake sediments requires a study of the temporal changes of the reservoir effect by analysis o f both the organic and marl fractions. The most reliable C-14 dates ar e obtained from terrestrial plant remains.