High spatial resolution observations of 137Cs in northern Britain and Ireland from airborne geophysical survey

Downward migration of radiocaesium in organic soils across a transect in Scotland

“…Such an occurrence could only have happened by downward transport of 137 Cs deposited much more recently. The post-Chernobyl airborne survey by Scheib and Beamish (2010) of Ayrshire in SW Scotland during 2005 and 2006 showed levels of 137 Cs activity up to 12.6 kBq m À2 , with a mean of 2.82 kBq m À2 (at 2006) and much more heterogeneity than in the broad scale maps presented by De Cort et al (1998). In addition to the release of 137 Cs (85 Â 10 15 Bq) the release from Chernobyl included 134 Cs (54 Â 10 15 Bq); see compilation by Smith and Beresford (2005).…”

“…An airborne survey of northern Britain and Ireland found some clustering of high levels of 137 Cs activity on high ground, and directional banding on the ground, representative of rainfall during the passage of the Chernobyl derived plume (Scheib and Beamish, 2010). The vertical distribution of 137 Cs in soil affects the exposure of man and animals to ionising radiation.…”