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Radionuclides deposition over Antarctica.
M Pourchet1, O Magand, M Frezzotti
1Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement, CNRS, BP 96, 38402 St Martin d'Hères Cedex, France.
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
|May 24, 2003
Summary
This study maps radionuclide distribution in Antarctica using ice cores, revealing distinct patterns from nuclear tests. Cesium-137 deposition is estimated at 760 TBq, highlighting the need for broader Antarctic sampling.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiochemistry
- Polar Studies
Background:
- Antarctica's ice cores preserve decades of atmospheric deposition data.
- International programs have collected extensive radionuclide data from Antarctic ice and snow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a comprehensive map of natural and artificial radionuclide distribution in Antarctica.
- To analyze radionuclide profiles for insights into historical atmospheric events.
- To estimate total deposition of key radionuclides across the continent.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of natural and artificial radionuclides in Antarctic snow and ice cores.
- Gamma spectrometry to determine plutonium-241 deposition via its daughter americium-241.
- Correlation analysis of radionuclide ratios (e.g., 137Cs/241Pu, 210Pb/137Cs) to estimate fluxes.
Main Results:
- Established mean total deposition of plutonium-241 at 37+/-20 Bq m(-2) across 28 stations.
- Detailed plutonium-241 profiles in ice cores clearly differentiate between 1950s-60s thermonuclear tests.
- Estimated total cesium-137 deposition at 760 TBq for the 90-180 degrees East sector.
Conclusions:
- Radionuclide mapping provides a clear record of past atmospheric events in Antarctica.
- Established relationships between radionuclides allow for flux estimations.
- Further sampling across all Antarctic sectors is required to validate deposition estimates.