A comparison of caesium-137 and erosion pin data from Tai To Yan, Hong Kong.

Abstract

This study compared the usefulness of caesium-137 (137Cs) tracing and the erosion pin technique in deriving soil erosion data at the footslopes of Tai To Yan, Hong Kong. The study was initiated in 1992 using 6 bounded plots of 6 m × 20 m. Statistically significant differences were observed in 137Cs content on 3 plots where differences of erosion have been monitored using erosion pins. While 137Cs inventories were not proportional to the erosion pin data, converted 137 erosion estimates showed encouraging agreement with the erosion pin data as erosion proceeded. The comparison of soil 137Cs levels to known erosion rates, such as those derived in the present study, indicates that the 137Cs technique offers potential for erosion studies in Hong Kong and the region. Moreover, the date from this study also suggest that, where a temporal record of land use is available, the 137Cs inventory could identify the effect of land use change upon soil erosion and redistribution over the short term.

Comparison of fallout radionuclide (caesium-137) and modelling approaches for the assessment of soil erosion rates for an uncultivated site in south-eastern Australia

“…Theoretical approaches are based on existing knowledge of the behaviour of 137 Cs subject to erosion and deposition. Research is required, in a range of environments, to validate 137 Cs based erosion estimates with independently derived erosion rates and ensure their wider applicability (Porto et al, 2003(Porto et al, , 2004Peart et al, 2006;Mabit et al, 2008).…”