Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Lindahl, Patric; Lee, Sang‐Han; Worsfold, Paul J.; Keith-Roach, Miranda J.

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2009.08.002

Cited by 92 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 164 publications

(86 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Ocean circulation patterns of relatively soluble Pu(V) can be elucidated from known fallout patterns, and the location of isolated Pu inputs and isotopic abundances (e.g. Yamada et al 2007;Lindahl et al 2010;Gastaud et al 2011).…”

Section: Ocean Sources Of Pu To Sedimentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The release and persistence of radioactive anthropogenic nuclides

Hancock

Tims

Fifield

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons during the period 1945-1980 ushered in the 'atomic age' and released large quantities of anthropogenic radiogenic nuclides into the atmosphere. These radionuclides were subsequently deposited as fallout to the entire surface of the planet. While many have decayed to negligible levels, long-lived radionuclides persist and will do so for thousands of years. Isotopes of plutonium, 239 Pu (half-life 24 100 years) and 240 Pu (half-life 6563 years), provide the best chronological markers for the onset of this anthropogenic event both now and into the future due to their long half-lives, particle-reactivity, and the fact that they were present in negligible quantities prior to anthropogenic production and release. Chronostratigraphic markers established by distinct Pu concentration profiles and Pu isotope changes in sediment sequences and ice and coral cores can provide high-resolution dating over the last 60 years. However, even though fallout has ceased, it is found that the Pu inventory currently held in surface soil layers and the oceans will continue to supply Pu to sediment deposition zones for millennia and centuries, respectively. The delivery of this Pu will depend on soil erosion and bioturbation rates, and the rate of removal of dissolved Pu from the ocean.The discovery and practical implementation of nuclear fission at Los Alamos in the 1940s lead to the onset of the 'atomic age' and the associated staged release of radiogenic nuclides into the Earth's biosphere. The release processes were initially mostly unrestrained, via testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, but later included releases from other sources such as underground nuclear testing, nuclear weapons fabrication, nuclear fuel reprocessing and radioisotope production, and included both controlled and uncontrolled (accidental) releases. These episodes released anthropogenic radioactivity into the environment through a variety of pathways, and with different release histories.Some of the radionuclides released were already present in the environment prior to the onset of anthropogenic production, but many were not or were present in only trace quantities. For those nuclides which have persisted in the environment over the last few decades, i.e. those with radioactive half

show abstract

Section: Ocean Sources Of Pu To Sedimentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The release and persistence of radioactive anthropogenic nuclides

Hancock

Tims

Fifield

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The assessment of isotopic ratios enables one to reconstruct the history of the neutron exposure to a sample (Hrnecek et al, 2005). The mean 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratio for global fallout from atmospheric weapons testing is found to be 0.178 AE 0.023 (Perkins and Thomas, 1980), whereas 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratios from the Chernobyl accident are characterized by a significantly higher value of 0.38 AE 0.07 (Lindahl et al, 2010).…”

Section: Plutoniummentioning

confidence: 99%

236U/238U and 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratios in small (2 L) sea and river water samples

Eigl

Srncik

Steier

et al. 2013

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Due to the well-defined spatial and temporal inputs of Pu and its physical and chemical properties, Pu can be used a tracer for various oceanic processes such as water mass transport, particle fluxes and scavenging (Lindahl et al, 2010b). Retrospective studies of Pu may therefore provide valuable information on past ocean circulation and further the development of ocean circulation models (Nakano and Povinec, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%