Summary
In areas of recent volcanism the plants capture volcanic carbon dioxide, devoid of C14 as well as atmospheric CO2. As a result there is a decrease in radiocarbon concentration in recent wood. The apparent radiocarbon age of such recent wood comes sometimes to 6000 years. By comparing C14 concentrations in annual rings of fossil wood, it is possible to get an idea on the presence and, under favourable conditions, on the extent of error in the radiocarbon age. A change in C14 concentration of dendrochronologically associated samples gives an outline of the changes in the activity of the nearby volcanoes.
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References
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Sulerzhitzky, L.D. Radiocarbon dating of volcanoes. Bull Volcanol 35, 85–94 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596809
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596809