Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
In contrast to previous radiocarbon measurement lists, this list contains only known-age samples, most of which formed during the past ten years. The measurements were made largely in order to gain an understanding of the distribution of radiocarbon within the dynamic carbon reservoir both today and at times in the past. Since all materials forming in this reservoir today do not have the same C 14 /C 12 ratio, such an understanding is necessary in order to arrive at the most accurate possible estimate of the age of samples submitted for dating. This is particularly important when high accuracy (i.e., <100 years error) is required on subaerially grown samples and also when attempting to extend the method to samples which formed in reservoirs other than the atmosphere (for example, the ocean and freshwater systems).
Broecker et al. (Thu,) studied this question.