RECENT SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOCARBON IN URBAN TREE LEAVES AT GYEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA

ABSTRACT Radiocarbon ( 14 C) in natural samples undergoes changes due to variations atmospheric CO 2 resulting from anthropogenic activities. To analyze the variation of C ratio , deciduous tree leaves were collected Gyeongju, a popular tourist city South Korea. Leaf Prunus subg. Cerasus trees at five different sampling points throughout over 3 years (2018, 2020, and 2021). The data categorized into three groups (downtown, rural, sites) analyzed for among years. downtown sites was stable after 2018, rural site increased between 2018 2020 then decreased 2021, 2018. We theorize that caused by decrease tourism