Input of anthropogenic radionuclides into the World Ocean

Aarkrog, A.

doi:10.1016/s0967-0645(03)00137-1

Cited by 156 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Figure 1 shows the total annual yields (Mt per year) from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests together with the activity of 90 Sr deposited in the northern and southern hemispheres. The 90 Sr global fallout pattern is similar to that of Pu isotopes, with an average 239+240 Pu/ 90 Sr activity ratio in global fallout of about 0.025 (decay corrected to 2000) based on the normalised production rate for 90 Sr and Pu isotopes in nuclear explosions (UNSCEAR, 2000a;Aarkrog, 2003).…”

Section: Atmospheric Nuclear Weapon Testsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Lindahl

Lee

Worsfold

et al. 2010

Marine Environmental Research

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Since the first nuclear weapons tests in the 1940s, pulsed inputs of plutonium isotopes have served as excellent tracers for understanding sources, pathways, dynamics and the fate of pollutants and particles in the marine environment. Due to the well-defined spatial and temporal inputs of Pu, the long half- Pu and its unique chemical properties, Pu is a potential tracer for various physical and biogeochemical ocean processes, including circulation, sedimentation and biological productivity, and hence a means of assessing the impacts of global climate change. Due to the source dependency of the Pu isotopic signature, plutonium isotopes are beginning to be exploited as tools for the evaluation and improvement of regional and global ocean models that will enhance understanding of past and future changes in the oceans. This paper addresses the major sources of Pu and the physical and biogeochemical behaviour in the marine environment. Finally, the use of Pu isotopes as tracers for various oceanic processes (e.g. water mass transport, particle export, and sedimentation) is considered.

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Section: Atmospheric Nuclear Weapon Testsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Lindahl

Lee

Worsfold

et al. 2010

Marine Environmental Research

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“…Global and local fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted in the 20th century was the major source of 137 Cs in the North Pacific Ocean (Aarkrog, 2003). In 2000, measured and estimated surface seawater 137 Cs activities across the North Pacific were in the range of 1.7-2.8 Bq m −3 (Hirose and Aoyama, 2003a).…”

Section: Preexisting 137 Cs Levels In the Surface North Pacificmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cesium-134 and 137 activities in the central North Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

et al. 2013

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Abstract. Surface seawater 134 Cs and 137 Cs samples were collected in the central and western North Pacific Ocean during the 2 yr after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident to monitor dispersion patterns of these radioisotopes towards the Hawaiian Islands. In the absence of other recent sources and due to its short half-life, only those parts of the Pacific Ocean would have detectable 134 Cs values that were impacted by Fukushima releases. Between March and May 2011, 134 Cs was not detected around the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. Here, most 137 Cs activities (1.2-1.5 Bq m −3 ) were in the range of expected preexisting levels. Some samples north of the Hawaiian Islands (1.6-1.8 Bq m −3 ) were elevated above the 23-month baseline established in surface seawater in Hawaii indicating that those might carry atmospheric fallout. The 23-month time-series analysis of surface seawater from Hawaii did not reveal any seasonal variability or trends, with an average activity of 1.46 ± 0.06 Bq m −3 (Station Aloha, 18 values). In contrast, samples collected between Japan and Hawaii contained 134 Cs activities in the range of 1-4 Bq m −3 , and 137 Cs levels were about 2-3 times above the preexisting activities. We found that the southern boundary of the Kuroshio and Kuroshio extension currents represented a boundary for radiation dispersion with higher activities detected within and north of the major currents. The radiation plume has not been detected over the past 2 yr at the main Hawaiian Islands due to the transport patterns across the Kuroshio and Kuroshio extension currents.

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“…Cesium is a highly seawater soluble radionuclide whose primary source to the ocean before March 2011 has been from weapons testing in the 1960s, with lesser amounts from Chernobyl fallout in 1986 and intentional discharges such as from European nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities at Cap de la Hague (France) and Sellafield (United Kingdom) (8). Before 2011, 137 Cs levels off Japan were ∼1-2 Bq·m −3 (9) (1 Bq = 1 disintegration per second).…”

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confidence: 99%

Fukushima-derived radionuclides in the ocean and biota off Japan

Buesseler¹,

Jayne

Fisher

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

410

391

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The Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, resulted in unprecedented radioactivity releases from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plants to the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Results are presented here from an international study of radionuclide contaminants in surface and subsurface waters, as well as in zooplankton and fish, off Japan in June 2011. A major finding is detection of Fukushima-derived 134 Cs and 137 Cs throughout waters 30–600 km offshore, with the highest activities associated with near-shore eddies and the Kuroshio Current acting as a southern boundary for transport. Fukushima-derived Cs isotopes were also detected in zooplankton and mesopelagic fish, and unique to this study we also find 110m Ag in zooplankton. Vertical profiles are used to calculate a total inventory of ∼2 PBq 137 Cs in an ocean area of 150,000 km 2 . Our results can only be understood in the context of our drifter data and an oceanographic model that shows rapid advection of contaminants further out in the Pacific. Importantly, our data are consistent with higher estimates of the magnitude of Fukushima fallout and direct releases [Stohl et al. (2011) Atmos Chem Phys Discuss 11:28319–28394; Bailly du Bois et al. (2011) J Environ Radioact , 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.11.015]. We address risks to public health and marine biota by showing that though Cs isotopes are elevated 10–1,000× over prior levels in waters off Japan, radiation risks due to these radionuclides are below those generally considered harmful to marine animals and human consumers, and even below those from naturally occurring radionuclides.

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Input of anthropogenic radionuclides into the World Ocean

Cited by 156 publications

References 5 publications

Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Cesium-134 and 137 activities in the central North Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Fukushima-derived radionuclides in the ocean and biota off Japan

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