Halocarbon ratio and tritium/3He dating of water masses in the Nansen Basin, Arctic Ocean

Abstract

Three separate tracer ratio-based water mass ages (CCl₄/F11, tritium/³ He and F11/F12) are calculated for the 1987 oceanographic section by R.V. Polarstern across the Nansen Basin, Arctic Ocean. The CCl₄/F11 ratio ages are shown to be in good agreement with the apparent tritium/³He ages throughout the age range studied (5\2—30 years) and with F11/F12 ages in the age range for which such comparisons can be made (16\2–30 years). A simple box model (integrated to 1987) shows that for CC1₄/F11 and tritium/³He ages less than 12 years, the apparent ages should be close to the mean age of the water sampled. The distribution of the tracer ages is discussed with respect to the circulation of water masses in the Nansen Basin.