Fossil Fuel Emissions Potentially End Radiocarbon Dating

According to a paper published July 20, 2015, the carbon released by burning fossil fuels is diluting the radioactive carbon-14 in the atmosphere.  As a result, the radiocarbon “age” of the atmosphere is increasing.  Carbon-14 is a rare, but naturally occurring, radioactive type of carbon that decays over thousands of years.  Radiocarbon dating works by comparing the changes in the fraction of carbon-14 to nonradioactive carbon, revealing how long the object has been around.  Fossil fuels such as coal and oil are so old that they contain no carbon-14.  When burned, their emissions flood the atmosphere with nonradioactive carbon, making the atmosphere appear older.  The evidence supporting this theory is shown in the tissues of plants taking in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, and their products, particularly cottons.  If the rate of fossil fuel emissions continue to increase this rapidly, a new t-shirt in the year 2050 will have the same radiocarbon date as a robe worn by William the Conqueror a thousand years ago.  The fraction of carbon-14 in the atmosphere began to decrease shortly after the Industrial Revolution, when fossil fuel combustion was prevalent. It increased again during the 1950’s and 60’s, with nuclear weapons testing.  Now, levels are inching closer to pre-industrial proportions, which, by 2020, could show a dark future for radiocarbon dating.  Personally, I believe this topic is important, because radiocarbon dating has been around for more than 60 years and has a range of uses, such as identifying illegal ivory trading, which is a current issue in many African and Asian countries.  Possible solutions to this problem would be to decrease fossil fuel emissions by relying on renewable, cleaner forms of energy, such as solar or wind. Barriers to this solution could be cost and reliability. Fossil fuels generate a larger and more consistent source of energy at a lower cost.  Although these reasons alone act as deterrents to many people, clean sources of energy are more promising in preserving and unlocking clues to our past. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150720154505.htm