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To: null and void

How does the existence of additional carbon-14 affect dating? Do objects absorb new amounts from the burst? Do objects with carbon-14 convert slower if atmosphere contains more carbon-14?

Wondering about the process.

I get the estimating is pretty accurate, but wonder about the variables. Do these known and unknown variables have a significant +- range that causes dating to be within decades/centuries etc as we go further back in time without less corresponding data points? Could local conditions have significantly different rates than the assumed average?

Or are these fluctuations minor compared to the totals?

Not sure why but I would guess that such bursts might have larger affect when recent that if long ago.


44 posted on 06/05/2012 12:43:28 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Raycpa
Yes. More carbon-14 in the atmosphere means more CO2 with carbon-14, that means that plants and anything that eats them absorb more carbon-14 and therefore have a higher level 14C and "look" younger.

The generally accepted error is ±50 years, with the known date corrections.

There are local variations and species to species variation (grasses absorb 14C at a different rate than broad leaves, for example)

I would also guess that the older the sample the larger the error, but don't know if a recent burst would have a larger effect.

45 posted on 06/05/2012 12:58:33 PM PDT by null and void (Day 1232 of our ObamaVacation from reality [and what dark chill/is gathering still/before the storm])
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