CALIB Manual - Chapter 3

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1. Data input from spreadsheet or editor

   An import data file may be created using a spreadsheet program or text editor. An example MS-EXCEL spreadsheet, c14inp.csv can be used as a template. CALIB expects two rows for headings followed by one row of data for each sample as shown below.

   Lab	Sample	14C BP	14C SD	Lab Error or added	Age Span	Not Used	Not Used	d13C	d13C SD	Delta R	Delta R SD	Marine Carbon	Description	CalCurve
   code	code	(CRA)	years	variance f**2	years			per mil	years	years	years	percentage	optional
   XY1234	NH	812	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Northern Hemisphere terrestrial sampl	2
   XY1235	SH	812	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Southern Hemisphere terrestrial sample	5
   XY1236	Marine	2450	50	1	0	0	0	0	0	52	19	100	Marine sample from Iceland using regional mean Delta R value	3
   XY1237	Mixed NH	2450	50	1	0	0	0	0	0	52	19	50	Sample from Iceland 50% marine carbon in diet regional mean Delta R value	4
   XY1238	Mixed SH	2450	50	1	0	0	0	0	0	221	41	70	Sample from S Chile 70% marine carbon diet regional mean DeltaR	6
   XY1239	NH2	310	18	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Northern Hemisphere short-lived terrestrial sample (uses UWSY98)	1
   XY1240	NH3	2010	20	1	60	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Northern Hemisphere long-lived terrestrial (age span uses moving average)	2

   Calibration curve numbers are given below, where NH = Northern Hemisphere and SH = Southern Hemisphere:

   1. UWSY98.14C NH single year dataset (not available in html on-line version)
   2. IntCal04.14C NH terrestrial calibration dataset
   3. Marine04.14C "global" marine calibration dataset
   4. Mixed NH and marine
   5. SHCal04.14C SH terrestrial dataset
   6. Mixed SH terrestrial and marine

2. Data output

   Calibration results are output to an annotatated text file, a data export file, an encapsulated postscript plot file, and a data storage file for each sample.

   • The annotated text file is named calout.doc by default. It is listed from within CALIB after calibration is complete. Its contents are overwritten during each calibration. Some of the CALIB tools append data to it.
   • Calibration results are also written to an export file as a comma separated list. The default name of the file is calout.csv. A spreadsheet program can be used to open this file. The first line is a heading to describe the data columns.
   • The encapsulated postscript file, named calib.eps, is generated whenever a plot is made. It must be renamed between plots, if it is not to be overwritten.
   • The per sample data storage file (called a plot file in earlier versions of the manual) includes the probability distribution data. This file is only available with the download version and is only written if the option is selected in the Options Menu under Calibration. Calibration results for each sample are stored in a file whose name is derived from the first 8 characters of either the Lab code or the Sample code, depending on which option was set, and an extension which indicates the calibration dataset used and the degree of smoothing of the curve. These files are not used by CALIB. The file names are generated as follows:

     SampleID.Xnn

     where X =	A - single year calibration dataset
     	B - decadal northern atmospheric calibration dataset
     	C - marine calibration dataset
     	D - mixed northern atmospheric and marine
     	E - decadal southern hemisphere atmospheric dataset
     	F - mixed southern atmospheric and marine
     and nn =	number of points used in the moving average to smooth the calibration curve
     	(if used, 00 otherwise).

     For example, if sample TEST1 was run with northern atmospheric calibration dataset with no smoothing, it's calibration data would be stored in file TEST1.B00. If it were run with the marine curve and a 5 point moving average, it would be stored in file TEST1.C05. The format of the data is given in Appendix B.

3. Calibration Datasets

   The calibration datasets are in text format with an 11 line header and 5 columns of data: Year BP, Radiocarbon age BP, σ (plus or minus error in age). Δ¹⁴C, σ¹⁴C

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