%A"Chesselet, R [Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires]" %D1969 %I; CEA Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France); Paris-Univ. Faculte des Sciences, 75 (France) %2 %J[] %K54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, BAY OF BISCAY, CERIUM 141, CERIUM 144, FALLOUT DEPOSITS, GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, NIOBIUM 95, NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, PLANKTON, PRASEODYMIUM 144, RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION, RUTHENIUM 103, RUTHENIUM 106, ZIRCONIUM 95 %PMedium: ED; Size: [117] pages %TStudy of the artificial radioactivity of the marine medium using gamma spectrometry (1962-1966); Etude de la radioactivite artificielle du milieu marin par spectrometrie gamma (1962-1966) %XThe results described in this study are relative to the artificial radioactivity of such elements as zirconium-95, niobium-95, ruthenium-103, ruthenium-106, cerium-141, cerium-144 and praseodymium-144 which were present in the atmospheric fallout between 1962 and 1964, and their incidence in superficial marine waters. Various physical, chemical or biological processes are studied by a high sensitivity gamma ray spectrometry technic, using those radioelements as 'tracers'. The change of state in sea water of an important fraction (about 50 per cent) of the radioactive particles going into the soluble phase - this phenomenon was not expected for those radioelements - controls the processes of accumulation in the planktonic biomass and the diffusion towards deeper waters. On the other hand, an 'in situ' spectrometry method is described. It enables the direct measurement in the sea of very low concentrations of some gamma ray emitters. The application of this method has made possible to carry out numerous observations in the surface waters of the Western Mediterranean sea and in the Bay of Biscay. It is shown that the mixing depth is closely connected to the depth of the thermocline. An accumulation process at this level is observed. The diffusion coefficients are similar to the thermal turbulent coefficient. The existence during several months of 'compartments' is established for the surface waters of the Bay of Biscay. From the establishment of the budget of fall-out, a comparative study shows that the rate of radioactive fallout on the maritime zone considered is always two to three times higher than on the neighbouring continental regions. Several explanations of this phenomenon are discussed. (author) [French] Les resultats decrits dans cette etude concernent la radioactivite artificielle sous forme de zirconium-95, niobium-95, ruthenium-103, ruthenium-106, cerium-141, cerium-144 et praseodyme-144 apportee par la retombee atmospherique entre 1962 et 1964 et les incidences de cette retombee dans les eaux marines superficielles. Considerant les radioelements etudies comme des 'traceurs' dans le milieu marin, divers processus physiques, chimiques ou biologiques ont ete etudies par spectrometrie gamma a haute sensibilite. Le passage en phase soluble dans l'eau de mer d'une fraction importante (environ 50 pour cent) de l'activite liee aux poussieres radioactives, phenomene qui n'etait pas previsible pour les radioelements etudies, gouverne les processus d'accumulation dans la biomasse planctonique et la diffusion vers les eaux plus profondes. Par ailleurs, une methode de spectrometrie 'in situ' permettant de mesurer directement dans la mer de tres faibles concentrations en certains radionuclides emetteurs gamma est decrite. L'application de cette methode a permis de nombreuses observations dans les eaux de surface de la Mediterranee occidentale et du Golfe de Gascogne. On montre quo la profondeur de melange est etroitement liee a celle de la thermocline. Un processus d'accumulation au niveau de celle-ci est constate. Les coefficients de diffusion sont voisins du coefficient de diffusion thermique turbulente. L'existence de compartiments qui subsistent pendant plusieurs mois dans la masse des eaux de surface du Golfe de Gascogne est mise en evidence. Grace aux bilans effectues, une etude comparative montre que le taux de retombees radioactives sur les surfaces maritimes est toujours deux a trois fois superieur a celui sur les regions continentales voisines. Diverses explications de ce phenomene sont discutees. (auteur) %0Thesis/Dissertation %NCEA-R-3698;TRN: FR04R3698002804 %1 %CFrance %Rhttps://doi.org/ TRN: FR04R3698002804 FRN %GFrench