RAPID: Anthropogenic Radionuclides in the Atlantic Ocean 4 Decades after GEOSECS
- Lead PI: Dr. Timothy Kenna
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Unit Affiliation: Geochemistry, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
- December 2009 - August 2013
- Inactive
- Atlantic Ocean
- Project Type: Research
DESCRIPTION: The project will determine the total concentration of the anthropogenic radionuclides 239Pu, 240Pu, 237Np, and 137Cs from various Atlantic GEOTRACES cruises. This will allow resolving different sources of radioactive contamination, address processes such as advection, sources, and sinks, as well as processes related to scavenging and particle dynamics across a range of contrasting regions.
OUTCOMES: Found that: fallout nuclides measured on the same sample provide a powerful tool to study scavenging; water column inventories of 137Cs have increased and are higher than in soil, while Pu is variable and similar to soil; it is likely that the 137Cu input is from European fuel reprocessing facilities.