/sup 137/Cs to /sup 90/Sr ratios in the Atlantic Ocean 1966 through 1972

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1974 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1974.19.4.0670· OSTI ID:7124693

Bowen, V T ^[1]; Noshkin, V E; Volchok, H L; Livingston, H D; Wong, K M

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1. Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst., MA

Ratios of /sup 137/Cs to /sup 90/Sr are summarized from analyses of a large number of seawater samples collected in and about the Atlantic Ocean from 1966 to 1972 at various depths. Analytical comparisons by the participating laboratories are presented. In open-ocean surface samples the mean ratio is 1.43, and in subsurface samples containing no less than 5 dpm /sup 137/Cs per 100 liters the mean is 1.44; in subsurface samples containing less than 5 dpm /sup 137/Cs per 100 liters, the mean is 1.64. No trend in this ratio with time can be seen, nor can any systematic difference be seen between North Atlantic, South Atlantic, or Mediterranean samples. Agreement of the various open-ocean ratios with that predicted in fallout, 1.45, is excellent. In nearshore samples from several different areas, however, the mean ratio is 1.07. Material balance and other considerations seem to preclude simple selective loss of /sup 137/Cs to the sediments. A number of other processes are available, nearshore, for reducing the /sup 137/Cs : /sup 90/Sr ratio, but it is not now possible to evaluate their relative importance, nor to explain why their action should result in about the same ratio in so many different nearshore environments.

• OSTI ID: 7124693
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Journal Name: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States) Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 19:4; ISSN LIOCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520300* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MONITORING
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOISOTOPES
SEAS
SEAWATER
SEDIMENTS
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES