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Determining the biocomponents in liquid fuels using radiocarbon radioisotope (14C) dating requires sample preparation adaptations to the conditions of the Gliwice Radiocarbon and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory. Liquid scintillation counting (LSC), and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) were investigated using six samples, including one 14C-free fuel and modern hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). For AMS, samples were prepared using tin capsules for liquids for EA combustion and graphitization in an AGE system. For LSC, liquid fuels were prepared by mixing with purified preheated sand and a benzene synthesis line. Benzene resublimation was also tested. IRMS measurements were also conducted for benzene to account for isotopic fractionation. Sample background measurements using both methods showed good performances by both AMS and LSC without resublimation. Comparable results were also obtained for HVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present data from the measurements of carbon isotopes (Δ14C and δ13C) from α-cellulose extracted from pine tree-rings. The samples were collected in four forests located in the most industrialized part of Poland, where coal mining and coal-based energy are an important branch of industry. The investigated period of time (1975–2012) covers the period of development in coal mining and other industry sectors. Stable isotope composition has been determined with using IRMS and radiocarbon concentration was determinate by AMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a record of the 14C and 13C isotope content of atmospheric CO2 for Gliwice is presented for samples collected on a weekly basis in the years 2011–2013. In addition, measurements were performed on the early and late wood from the annual rings of pine trees from five sites located 3–6 km from the atmospheric CO2 sampling point. The concentration of 14C in CO2 samples from the air was much lower relative to the concentration of this isotope in "clean air," indicating a pronounce Suess effect, with a mean Δ14C lower by ca. 60‰ than Jungfraujoch data when the 15% of the highest differences are excluded, which leads to the FFCO2 estimate of 5.8%. In winter, the main source of fossil CO2 was fuel combustion, as confirmed by significant correlations with air pollutants. In the vegetation seasons, the Δ14C was highly variable due to biogenic influence and more variable winds. The isotopic results were also affected by an additional significant CO2 source for the Gliwice air, which was a closed mine shaft. The Δ14C and δ13C in tree rings did not record a strong Suess effect in the years 2008–2013 in woodland areas around Gliwice city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable carbon isotope ratios and radiocarbon (14C) concentrations in samples of pine wood (AD 1975–2012) from 3 sites, as well as needles (AD 2012–2014) collected from 15 sites, in a heavily urbanized area in proximity to heavy industrial factories in Poland were analyzed as bio-indicators of CO2 emissions. The sampling sites were located at different distances from point sources. The stable isotopic composition was determined using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer, and the 14C concentration was determined using a liquid scintillation counter and an accelerator mass spectrometer. Spatial and temporal variability of δ13C and Δ14C in tree ring cellulose and needles was noted in all regions. A negative correlation between δ13C tree ring cellulose and anthropogenic CO2 emissions has been observed. The ratio of δ13C in tree ring cellulose to δ13C in needles created in the same year is equal to 1.2 at the investigated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Radiocarbon and 210Pb were measured on the uppermost 40cm of a Wardenaar peat core retrieved from a Baltic raised bog at Słowińskie Błota (Pomerania, North Poland). This site is the subject of ongoing multiproxy studies covering the last 1300years. Radiocarbon age model was constructed on the basis of 14 AMS dates obtained on selected Sphagnum spp. fragments, with use of P_Sequence tool. We present here a comparison of this model with the age model obtained using CRS model classically applied to 210Pb measurements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

'Little Ice Age' (LIA) climatic deteriorations have been abundantly documented in various archives such as ice, lake sediments and peat bog deposits. Palaeoecological analyses of peat samples have identified these climatic deteriorations using a range of techniques, for example palynology, plant macrofossils, testate amoebae or carbon isotopic analyses. The use of inorganic geochemistry and the reconstruction of dust fluxes has remained a challenge in tracing the nature of LIA climatic changes. Although the idea of enhanced erosion conditions and storminess is commonly discussed, the conditions for dust deposition in peatlands over Europe during the LIAare rarely favourable, because the natural forest cover over Europe was much more important than nowadays, preventing dust deposition. This intense forest canopy masks the deposition of dust in peatlands. In northern Poland, near the Baltic shore, the Slowińskie Błota area was deforested around AD 1100, ie, just before the LIA, and therefore constitutes a key area for the reconstruction of LIA climatic change. With the support of a well-constrained chronology, climatic fluctuations are recorded in an ombrotrophic bog using inorganic geochemistry, plant macrofossils and carbon isotopic analyses. The reconstruction of LIA climatic changes is in good agreement with other records from Poland and NE Europe. However, a c. 50-year discrepancy can be observed between various records. This discrepancy is possibly due to progressive time-dependent cooling gradient from north to south Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of stable isotopes (18O and 13C) and radiocarbon in organic materials, carbonates and water samples collected from the environment of lacustrine sediments in Gosciąż Lake (Central Poland) and Wigry Lake (NE Poland) were investigated. The oxygen and carbon isotopic analysis of terrestrial semi submerged and submerged plants, shells and water samples were compared with the results of the uppermost sediments from lakes. It was found that the concentration of isotopes in different components of organic and carbonate materials in lakes and their environments are reflected in isotope composition averaging of lakes sediments, whereas the isotope composition of plants and carbonate depends on biogeochemical factors. The research carried out revealed significant variations in the distribution of the stable isotopes and 14C in different elements of lacustrine ecosystem. We have analyzed mean values and variations of 14C concentration, ◻18O, ◻13C of plants, carbonates and the relationship between the total content of carbon and ◻13C. In the case of plants, the isotope composition depends also on the physiognomy and the photosynthesis pathway. We noticed variations in ◻13C and ◻18O within plant tissues, variations in ◻13C among whole tissue material and alpha-cellulose, carbon isotopic composition of photosynthetically fixed carbon and syntaxonomic dependences and then we compared the results of isotope composition of plants and carbonates in Wigry Lake and Gośeciąż Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of creating radiocarbon database came up in late 80's. In this time the staff of the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory started developing the local database GdRDB that should contain all dates of samples measured in this laboratory. This first database had a simple structure - only one file. Later modification of GdRDB database in 1994 introduced changes in its structure, and the modified database had seven files. The modification was made in order to adapt GdRDB to databases already existing (in Japan, Great Britain and Yugoslavia) and to make it match the standard established by the International Radiocarbon Database (IRDB). The new database system was developed in the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory in 2002. This system consists of five relational databases containing all information about submitters and institutions, samples, sites and the dating process. The access to these databases and management of data is provided through an application called Register of Samples Editor (RoSE). The RoS system is supplied with the Data Analyse application enabling analyses of database content and Web Assistant programme, which generates web pages containing information about dated archival samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New results of carbon isotopic composition from tree rings have been analyzed. Δ14C and δ 13C data, representing the isotopic composition of carbon in “clean air”, were obtained from annual rings of a pine tree (Pinus sylvestris) taken in the Niepołomice area, 25km east Kraków, Poland. All samples were processed to extract α-cellulose, and the radiocarbon concentration in each annual ring was measured using AMS at the University of Nagoya. Stable isotopic composition of carbon was determined using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The dataset covers the growth period between 1960 and 2003. The average difference between radiocarbon concentrations in Niepołomice and the North Hemisphere zone 1 (NH zone 1) for the period between 1960 and 1999 is 3.5±1.6‰. These data are compared with previously presented results from the city of Kraków, where a local decrease in 14C concentration was observed due to local CO2 emission from fossil fuel use. The differences in observed 14C concentrations were used to estimate a magnitude of the local Suess effect in Kraków. Based on mass balance equations for CO2 14C concentrations, it was possible to calculate the CO2 concentration associated with fossil fuel emission (C foss) into the atmosphere. The highest values of C foss were recorded in the years 1986 (11.9±1.4ppmV) and 1983 (8.1±1.3ppmV), while the lowest value of 0.6±1.8ppmV was recorded in 2001. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]