Tree Rings as Archives of Atmospheric Pollution by Fossil Carbon Dioxide in Bratislava

Abstract

Results of radiocarbon (14C) analysis of a tree-ring series from Bratislava, Slovakia, covering the period from 1970 to 2004 are presented. For a part of this time period, monthly 14C measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide from Bratislava sampling station are compared with the tree-ring results. The effects of fossil CO2 emissions on 14C levels in the environment are emphasized by comparison with atmospheric clean air reference values (Schauinsland, Germany). The presented results from Bratislava are also set against the previously measured tree-ring series from Low Tatras mountain region in Slovakia, representing regional clean air radiocarbon levels in the biosphere. The observed 14C levels of Bratislava tree rings and atmospheric CO2 in 1970s and 1980s are significantly lower than clean air data, indicating severe fossil CO2 pollution in Bratislava during this time period.

DATING OF WOODEN HERITAGE OBJECTS IN THE GLIWICE 14C AND MASS SPECTROMETRY LABORATORY

“…From the radiocarbon perspective, tree rings investigations enabled the reconstruction of past 14 C content necessary for calibration of radiocarbon dates (Reimer et al 2020;van der Plicht et al 2020;Hua et al 2022), provided the insight into the carbon cycle on the Earth (e.g., Levin and Hesshaimer 2000) and delivered data on changing astronomical variables such as cosmic ray intensity (Miyake et al 2012). 14 C concentration in growth-rings were explored as records of environmental and climatic conditions (e.g., Pazdur et al 2007) as well as anthropogenic influence on the environment (e.g., Ežerinskis et al 2018;Sensuła et al 2018;Kontuľ et al 2022).…”