INTCAL98 radiocarbon age calibration, 24,000-0 cal BP

The focus of this paper is the conversion of radiocarbon ages to calibrated (cal) ages for the interval 24,000-0 cal BP (Before Present, 0 cal BP = AD 1950), based upon a sample set of dendrochronologically dated tree rings, uranium-thorium dated corals, and varve-counted marine sediment. The (14)C age-cal age information, produced by many laboratories, is converted to Delta(14)C profiles and calibration curves, for the atmosphere as well as the oceans. We discuss offsets in measured (14)C ages and the errors therein, regional (14)C age differences, tree-coral (14)C age comparisons and the time dependence of marine reservoir ages, and evaluate decadal vs. single-year (14)C results. Changes in oceanic deepwater circulation, especially for the 16,000-11,000 cal sp interval, are reflected in the Delta(14)C values of INTCAL98.