title: A new interpretation of depth-age profiles.
abstract: Dosimetry and other techniques provide depth-age profiles in materials as diverse as sediments and ice. A frequent characteristic feature of these plots is a non-linear curve with a foreshortened depth scale. Whilst the age analyses from the dosimetry do not present a problem, many authors have made subsequent assumptions on the basis of the curve shape with respect to climate and environmental changes. Such claims should be strongly questioned, as by using a model which includes the effects of compaction, most of the original curves transform into linear plots corresponding to constant depositional rates. The corrections and the implications for models of climate change are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. p.d.townsend@sussex.ac.uk
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rowlands
mesh_terms: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006207:Half-Life; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000379:methods*; D013995:Time
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes