radiokarbonpäivityksiä

Radiokarbonpäivityksiä is the Finnish term for radiocarbon dating calibration. Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a method for determining the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 remaining in them. However, the concentration of carbon-14 in the Earth's atmosphere has not been constant throughout history. Natural events like variations in solar activity, changes in the Earth's magnetic field, and large-scale changes in ocean circulation have affected atmospheric carbon-14 levels.

Radiokarbonpäivityksiä refers to the process of correcting raw radiocarbon dates to account for these past fluctuations. This is achieved by comparing radiocarbon dates of samples with known historical ages, such as tree rings (dendrochronology), ice cores, and corals, to the measured radiocarbon ages of those same samples. These comparisons create calibration curves. When a new radiocarbon date is obtained, it is plotted against these calibration curves to obtain a calibrated date range, which is a more accurate representation of the calendar age of the sample. This calibration is crucial for precise archaeological, geological, and paleoclimatological studies, allowing for more reliable interpretations of past events and timelines.