Anthropogenic 14C Variations in Atmospheric CO2 and Wines

Abstract

As an extension of the Bratislava – Tbilisi collaboration, thermonuclear bomb-produced 14C variations in atmospheric CO2 of Bratislava (1967–1987) and in annually produced Georgian wines (1950–1987) are discussed. 14C produced in bomb tests performed in the atmosphere has considerably modified the natural 14C levels in the atmosphere and biosphere. Measurements of 14C in monthly samples of atmospheric CO2 show typical seasonal variations with maxima in summers and deep minima in winters. There is very good agreement between 14C measured in CO2 and in wine samples. Four maxima (1959, 1964, 1970 and 1978) were identified in the wine data. Our results confirm that wines prepared from annually grown grapes without any addition of other substances are good indicators of the 14C content of atmospheric CO2.