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 CO2 and bomb 14C by surface ocean waters. The history of Delta-14C 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 14C concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIOC) in surface waters representative of the Gulf Stream.