Mapping radionuclide distribution in surface sediments using GIS and an underwater HPGe detector
A radiological distribution survey at the L Lake on the Savannah River Site (SRS) was conducted by the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) during the summer of 1995 as part of a larger project to examine future alternatives for L Lake and other SRS water bodies. The primary purpose of the survey was to confirm previous radionuclide surveys of Cesium-137 (137Cs) in the L Lake area. EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc. conducted an aerial, baseline radiological survey of the L Lake area and the Steel Creek drainage basin in 1985. Overflight gamma mappings of the area by EG and G indicated that the only significant man-made radionuclides were located in the stream beds3, which were subsequently covered by the reservoir. The major concern was to see if any of the man-made radiation was redistributed over time away from the stream beds. In the current study an underwater HPGe detector was used to scope the possibility of sediment redistribution from the stream beds beneath L Lake. The underwater detector was positioned to view the bottom sediment and the geographic position of the pontoon boat used for deployment was recorded. The count rate at each position is proportional to the radiation level that would be observed if the lake water were absent, as in the 1985 overflight measurements. Thus, the 1995 study yields count rate profiles that are appropriate for comparison with the gamma mappings of 1985.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- OSTI ID:
- 379001
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-MS-96-0321; CONF-961103-5; ON: DE96060097; TRN: 94T00577
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Winter meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the European Nuclear Society (ENS), Washington, DC (United States), 10-14 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Mapping radionuclide distribution in surface sediments using GIS and an underwater HPGe detector