The factors examined are: precision of analytical techniques, isotopic fractionation, incorporation of nuclear-bomb-produced Cl4 into humus, and contamination by re- use or soil-respired CO2.

What environmental factors influence the accuracy of carbon dating?

Radiocarbon dating would be most successful if two important factors were true: that the concentration of carbon-14 in the atmosphere had been constant for thousands of years, and that carbon-14 moved readily through the atmosphere, biosphere, oceans and other reservoirs—in a process known as the carbon cycle.