Secrets Unveiled by Notre Dame Fire
Sometimes opportunities to learn arise from even the biggest of disasters. The 2019 Notre-Dame de Paris fire is a classic example, opening a unique window on the past.
Researchers from France, Finland and Canada have been unlocking the secrets of the High Medieval Ages environmental conditions buried in the charred oak beams taken from the wreckage, using Sercon Limited IRMS, Teledyne Photon Machines laser ablation and Terra Analitic IsoScell for in-situ δ13C analysis.
The key findings of their research, which add to paleoscientific archives available to scientists include:
- Experimental studies on modern and Notre-Dame oak wood to determine the effect of charring on fractionation
- First-time use of laser ablation IRMS on burnt wood
- Consistent carbonisation-induced 13C fractionation at temperatures above 500°C.
- Strong correlation between uncharred and carbonised wood, preserving C isotopic variability
Such a rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding or historic environmental conditions is a great example of innovation and collaboration enabling genuine scientific progress.
