Measurement of lead-210 in surface air and precipitation

Joshi, L. U.; Rangarajan, C.; Gopalakrishnan, S.

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v21i1.10061

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“… Rastogi and Sarin [2005b] have reported that Σ salt content in rainwater samples from the same site is largely affected by the antecedent dry period between the successive rain events. The measured 210 Pb concentrations in the range of 3.1 to 367 mBq L −1 are comparable to those reported by Joshi et al [1969] and average concentration of 98 mBq L −1 by Lal et al [1979] in the rain events over Mumbai (India) (Table 4); a region dominated by high rainfall (∼2000 mm). This further attests to our observation that 210 Pb concentration in rainwater is independent of the precipitation volume.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…The volume‐weighted mean (VWM) 210 Pb concentration in rain events, collected over a three‐year period at Ahmedabad, is 74 mBq L −1 ; whereas VWM for an individual year 2000, 2001 and 2002 is 97, 56 and 72 mBq L −1 , respectively (Figure 3a; Table 4). The VWM of 210 Pb at other global sites reported in the literature have been summarized in Table 4 [ Joshi et al , 1969; Lal et al , 1979; Turekian et al , 1983; Todd et al , 1989; Baskaran et al , 1993]. It is further observed that frequency of precipitation events at a given place plays a significant role in controlling the VWM concentration of 210 Pb, rather than the precipitation amount.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Thus, 210 Pb serves as an ideal tracer of continental air masses because emission of 222 Rn from oceans and lakes are negligible (<1%) compared to land sources [ Turekian et al , 1977 , 1989; Graustein and Turekian , 1996; Balkanski et al , 1993]. However, the flux of 222 Rn shows significant spatial and temporal variability depending upon 226 Ra content of the topsoils, soil‐porosity and meteorology of a particular region [ Joshi et al , 1969; Feichter et al , 1991]. Anthropogenic sources, such as coal combustion and nuclear explosions, contribute less than 1% of 222 Rn and 210 Pb to the atmosphere [ United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation ( UNSCEAR ), 1988; Dueñas et al , 2004].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Atmospheric ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Rastogi¹,

Sarin²

2008

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] Time series measurements of 210 Pb and 7 Be made on ambient aerosols, collected from a low-altitude urban site (Ahmedabad, 23.0°N, 72.6°E, 49 m asl) and a high-altitude station (Mt. Abu, 24.6°N, 72.7°E, 1680 m asl) located in a high-dust semiarid region of western India, reveal characteristic pattern of temporal variability consistent over three years (2000)(2001)(2002). The relatively high concentrations of 210 Pb (>1 mBq m À3 ) during wintertime (November-February) are dominated by continental air masses from the northeast; whereas lower values during the summer months (April-May) and southwest monsoon season (June-August) are associated with (southwesterly) maritime air. The concentration of 210 Pb in individual rain events at Ahmedabad, collected during the southwest monsoon for the same three-year period, also exhibits large variability (range of 3-367 mBq L À1 ; volume-weighted mean of 74 mBq L À1 ). This first set of data on the simultaneous measurements in rain and aerosols from a semiarid region is useful in deriving scavenging ratio (SR = 290) of 210 Pb. On the basis of data for the three consecutive years (2000)(2001)(2002), we find that both dry and wet deposition fluxes of 210 Pb center around 2-4 mBq cm À2 a À1 , suggesting relative dominance of dry deposition in a semiarid region. When used in conjunction with 210 Pb, 7 Be provides information on the vertical mixing of air masses. During the dry season (January-May and SeptemberDecember), abundances of 7 Be and 210 Pb (mBq m À3 ) in ambient aerosols over Ahmedabad ( 7 Be, 1.9 ± 0.1 to 6.0 ± 0.3; 210 Pb, 0.32 ± 0.03 to 1.9 ± 0.2) and Mt. Abu ( 7 Be, 3.8 ± 0.2 to 7.6 ± 0.3; 210 Pb, 0.39 ± 0.05 to 1.8 ± 0.2) do not show any covariance, suggesting their usefulness as independent tracers of air masses and pollutants transport. Assuming literature-based constant 222 Rn flux and measured abundance of 210 Pb in aerosols, a model-based approach has provided a simple way to ascertain residence time of tropospheric aerosols, varying from $5 days during the dry season and $2 days in the wet season. These results attempt to fill a major existing gap for the south Asian region under Global Atmospheric Watch program. Citation: Rastogi, N., and M. M. Sarin (2008), Atmospheric 210 Pb and 7 Be in ambient aerosols over low-and high-altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes,

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Atmospheric ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Rastogi¹,

Sarin²

2008

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The usefulness of cosmic ray produced radioisotopes towards understanding the atmospheric circulation has long been demonstrated (see Lal and Peters 1967 for a review). 210pb (the daughter of 2~2Rn which emanates from the earth) and its daughter products have also been shown to be useful for studying short-term atmospheric wash out of processes (Bhandari and Rama 1963 ;Bhartdari 1965 ;Joshi et al 1969;Rangarajan et al 1975;Turekian et al 1977). It is known that some of the radioisotopes 7Be, asS artd ~2Na have also been produced in large amounts due to testing of nuclear weapons and that this' excess' production has significantly altered the natural levels of these isotopes, both in the atmosphere and in the hydrosphere.…”

Section: Rntroductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual fallout of32Si,210Pb,22Na,35S and7Be in rains in India

Lal

Nijampurkar

Rajagopalan³

et al. 1979

J Earth Syst Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The concentration of radioisotopes rBe, ~S were measured in Bombay since 1956 and ~2Na, ~a~ z~Si since 1963. In Khandala and other stations such measurements have been made at irregular periods since 1961. In addition several measurements especially that of 32Si were made in 1970. Data available todate from Indian stations is summarised and critically analysed. We conclude that appreciable amounts of ~S, 2~Na and 8JSi, over and above their production by cosmic rays, were produced during the high yield Russian tests as evidenced by their fallout between 1962-66. Based on the bomb produced excess the half period for their removal from the stratosphere is deduced to be less than 1 year. The ' excess' contribution of 3aSi due to bombs is, however, small; about 1~0 of its inventory in the oceans. The present study shows that for stations where orogeny is the principal mer nism of precipitation, the annual fallout is independent of the annual rainfall.

show abstract

“…As the atmospheric deposition flux of 210 Pb at the lake site is unknown; the available mean atmospheric flux of 210 Pb at Mumbai station, India (250 Bq m -2 year -1 , Joshi et al, 1969) and the inventory supported by this flux was assumed to be similar to that present the study area. Assuming a continuous input of fallout 210 Pb,…”

Section: Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of erosion rate in a small catchment of Loktak wetland, India, using lead-210 (<SUP align=right>210</SUP>Pb) technique

Singh

Kumar

Khare

et al. 2007

IJW

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Loktak Lake, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the northeastern India, is under severe pressure due to many reasons-the main being increased siltation from the degraded catchment area. In the present study Nuclear Technique [Lead-210 ( 210 Pb) Technique] has been applied to estimate soil erosion rates in the catchment of the lake. The erosion rates of the various land uses in the catchment have determined for various land uses, which are; fallow land (1.86 t ha -1 y -1 ), paddy cultivation (1.69 t ha -1 y -1 ), mixed forest (1.59 t ha -1 y -1 ) and river bed (1.35 t ha -1 y -1 ). The results obtained from the unsupported 210 Pb are compared with equivalent results based on the modified Morgan Morgan Finney model and the results are found satisfactory. He has been working in the area of ground water, watershed management, rainwater harvesting and urban water management. He has published more than 60 research papers in journal and conferences. He has worked as principal investigator in many projects sponsored by various government and private organisations. Sanjay K. Jain is presently working as scientist E1 at the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee (Uttaranchal State). He graduated in Civil Engineering in 1986 and then completed his MSc in Hydrology from the University of Ireland, Ireland. In 2001, he completed his PhD from IIT Roorkee (the then University of Roorkee). His main areas of research are applications of remote sensing and GIS in hydrological studies. He has published more than 30 research papers in journal and conferences. He has prepared 12 reports of various research projects and contributed chapters in three books.

show abstract

Measurement of lead-210 in surface air and precipitation

Cited by 17 publications

References 3 publications

Atmospheric ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Atmospheric ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Annual fallout of32Si,210Pb,22Na,35S and7Be in rains in India

Estimation of erosion rate in a small catchment of Loktak wetland, India, using lead-210 (<SUP align=right>210</SUP>Pb) technique

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Measurement of lead-210 in surface air and precipitation

Cited by 17 publications

References 3 publications

Atmospheric 210Pb and 7Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Atmospheric 210Pb and 7Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Annual fallout of32Si,210Pb,22Na,35S and7Be in rains in India

Estimation of erosion rate in a small catchment of Loktak wetland, India, using lead-210 (<SUP align=right>210</SUP>Pb) technique

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Atmospheric ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes

Atmospheric ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in ambient aerosols over low‐ and high‐altitude sites in semiarid region: Temporal variability and transport processes