Uranium and plutonium isotopes in the atmosphere

Journal Article · Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC088iC06p03718· OSTI ID:5860944

Sakuragi, Y; Meason, J L; Kuroda, P K

Uranium 234 and 235 were found to be highly enriched relative to uranium 238 in several rain samples collected at Fayetteville, Arkansas, during the months of April and May 1980. The anomalous uranium appears to have originated from the Soviet satellite Cosmos-954, which fell over Canada on January 24, 1978. The uranium fallout occurred just about the time Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The concentration of /sup 238/U in rain increased markedly after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, and it appeared as if a large quantity of natural uranium was injected into the atmosphere by the volcanic eruption. The pattern of variation of the concentrations of uranium in rain after the eruption of Mount St. Helens was found to be similar to that of plutonium isotopes.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
• OSTI ID: 5860944
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 88:C6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARKANSAS
RADIOACTIVITY
URANIUM 234
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 238
FALLOUT
ISOTOPE RATIO
MT ST HELENS
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
RAIN
SATELLITES
SURFACE AIR
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AIR
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CASCADE MOUNTAINS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
USA
WASHINGTON
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)