Uptake and migration of tracers in lake sediments

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Limnol. Oceanogr., v. 20, no. 4, pp. 497-510

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1975.20.4.0497· OSTI ID:4183059

Lerman, A; Lietzke, T A

Mathematical solutions are given for an equation describing transient and steady state concentrations in lake water and sediments, in the presence of adsorption, decay, sedimentation, and diffusion. The results of the model are compared with the distributions of two tracers, $sup 90$Sr and $sup 137$Cs, in the sediments of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Adsorption of the two tracers by sediment particles, supported by experimental data, can be treated as a linear exchange reaction. $sup 90$Sr is adsorbed less strongly than $sup 137$Cs by sediments, and this feature accounts for the greater depths of $sup 90$Sr occurrence in lake sediments. Distribution of the radionuclide activities in sediments is compatible with a model based on mean steady input to the lakes for 16 years (1953-1969), and the following values of diffusion coefficients in pore waters: for $sup 90$Sr, 2 x 10$sup -6$ to to 4 x 10$sup -6$ cm$sup 2$$s$$sup -1$, and for $sup 137$Cs, 2 x 10$sup -5$ cm$sup 2$ s$sup -1$. An additional transport mechanism in sediments, sedimentation, is more significant in Lake Erie (0.3-0.6 cm yr$sup -1$, according to the model) than in Lake Ontario (0.05 cm yr$sup -1$). Conditions are outlined under which the fluxes from lake water to sediments are important in the chemical balance of medium and large lakes. (auth)

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-002988
• OSTI ID: 4183059
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr., v. 20, no. 4, pp. 497-510, Journal Name: Limnol. Oceanogr., v. 20, no. 4, pp. 497-510; ISSN LIOCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CESIUM 137-- DIFFUSION
*LAKE ERIE-- RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
*LAKE ONTARIO-- RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
*RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION-- MATHEMATICAL MODELS
*STRONTIUM 90-- DIFFUSION
520300* --Environmental Sciences
Aquatic--Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport
ADSORPTION
DECAY
EQUATIONS
LAKES
N44300* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport
SEDIMENTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES