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Vertical dispersion of Chernobyl fall-out on Kesselwandferner. Oetzlal Alps, Austria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

W. Ambach
Affiliation:
Institut für Medizinische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
W. Rehwald
Affiliation:
Institut für Medizinische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
M. Blumthaler
Affiliation:
Institut für Medizinische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
H. Eisner
Affiliation:
Institut für Experimental physik, Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
P. Brunner
Affiliation:
Institut für Radiochemie, Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Abstract

Type
Correspondence
Copyright
Copyright © International Glaciological Society 1989

SIR,

Vertical dispersion of Chernobyl fall-out on Kesselwandferner. Oetzlal Alps, Austria

In the accumulation area of Kesselwandferner (Oetztal Alps, Austria; 3250 m a.s.l.), snow samples were taken within an area of 10 000 m2 in the years 19862013;88. We have measured gross ß-activity and gamma-activity of samples in vertical profiles contaminated by radioactive fall-out from the Chernobyl accident. Profiles in 1986 cover a depth range from the surface down to 1 m, in 1987 down to 6 m, and in 1988 down to 11m (Reference Ambach, Rehwald, Blumthaler, Eisner and BrunnerAmbach and others, 1987, 1988). This allows us to study the displacement of radioactive contamination in firn.

The depth range contaminated expands from the surface to 1 m (1986) to the range from 3 to 6 m (1987), and to the range from 5 to 11m (1988). The upper boundary of the contaminated depth range migrates to greater depths due to net accumulation. Peak values of gross ß-activity in vertical profiles are reduced by radioactive decay and by leaching out from 149Bq/kg (1986) to 47 Bq/kg (1988). The upper boundary of the contaminated range serves as a significant marker, as the activity changes from the low natural background to high values. The lower boundary of the contaminated depth range is less clearly defined due to percolating melt water.

Whereas in 1986 samples 95Zr, 95Nb, 103Ru 103/106Ru/Rh, 110mAg, 125Sb, 134Cs, 137Cs, and 144Ce, could be detected by gamma spectroscopy, in 1988 only traces of 110Ag, 106Rh, and 125Sb were detectable without significance. The main gamma-activity results from 134Cs and 137Cs contributing 13 and 87% to total gamma-activity.

References

Ambach, W. Rehwald, W. Blumthaler, M. Eisner, H. Brunner, P.. 1987 Radioactive fall–out on Alpine glaciers from the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Z. Gletscherkd. Glazialgeol., 23(2), 123129.Google Scholar
Ambach, W. Rehwald, W. Blumthaler, M. Eisner, H. Brunner, P.. 1988 Displacement of Chernobyl fall–out in snow layers of temperate Alpine glaciers. Sci. Total Environ., 76, 101107.Google Scholar