Pb/sup 210/-determined sedimentation rate, and accumulation of metals in sediments at a station in Chesapeake Bay

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Chesapeake Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1350593· OSTI ID:5207362

Schubel, J R; Hirschberg, D J

The paper contains the first published radiometrically determined contemporary sedimentation rate, a rate characteristic of the past few decades, for any part of the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system. Cores collected from a station in the main body of the Chesapeake Bay off Tilghman Island (38/sup 0/41'30''N, 76/sup 0/24'00''W) were analyzed for Pb/sup 210/, organic carbon, nitrogen, and selected metals. A mean sedimentation rate of between 0.09 to 0.12 cm/y was inferred from the Pb/sup 210/ data. The distributions of C and N are typical of many areas of the Bay. The distributions of extractable Ni, Cr, Cu, and Pb increased in the upper 10 to 15 cm of the core. The increases in metal concentrations over the past century or so may be a result of man's activities.

• Research Organization: State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook
• OSTI ID: 5207362
• Journal Information: Chesapeake Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Chesapeake Sci.; (United States) Vol. 18:4; ISSN CPSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON
CHESAPEAKE BAY
CHROMIUM
COPPER
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ESTUARIES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LEAD
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
NICKEL
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOMETRIC GAGES
SEAS
SEDIMENTATION
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES