Th/U dating The Th/U age determination
For a century, knowledge of uranium decay series has been an important geochronological tool. In recent decades, highly sensitive and high-resolution mass spectrometer systems have revolutionised the feasibility and precision of these methods.
We have been contributing to the future development and application of methods and their applicability for many decades. In essence, this research area is the origin of the Chair of Physics of Environmental Archives. We improve the chemical methods for the extraction of U and its decay products from sediment archives and we also optimise the mass spectrometric measurement methods in order to improve the age accuracy of the investigations and to extend the range of application ever further. We are also revising the data processing and models for determining the age of sometimes complicated geological sediment archives. The essential core of our research work concerns the absolute and most precise possible dating of climate archives, such as (tropical and cold-water) corals, cave interiors and many other suitable materials (travertines, calcareous tuffs, ... ). Better chronologies of climate archives are of central importance for a better understanding of natural climate variability as well as human history. The DFG has supported our work through a number of projects, the two links refer to two current research projects. Many of our publications demonstrate the precision of age determination that we apply in numerous research areas. Further information on the projects can be found in the publications and news.
