Radionuclide deposition from the Chernobyl cloud

High-resolution historical records from Pettaquamscutt River basin sediments: 1. 210Pb and varve chronologies validate record of 137Cs released by the Chernobyl accident

“…While most of the released material was deposited close to the site of the accident in northern Ukraine, southern Belarus and Russia's Bryansk region (Stone, 2001), strong winds carried a plume towards Finland and Sweden (ApSimon and Wilson, 1986;Mould, 2000). By May 2, the plume had reached the UK and Japan, and by May 6, Canada and the United States (Ayoama et al, 1986;Smith and Clark, 1986;Mould, 2000). Even though 137 Cs was detected in the atmosphere in several regions of the United States following the accident (Larsen et al, 1986;Feely et al, 1988;Holloway and Liu, 1988), no record of a clear Chernobyl 137 Cs peak is observed in sediments from Florida (Robbins et al, 2000), Massachusetts (Spliethoff and Hemond, 1996), California (Fuller et al, 1999) or other locations in the country (Van Metre et al, 1997).…”

The deposition of Caesium 137 on grassland at a site in SW England following the Chernobyl accident

“…This was due to the weather conditions prevailing during the passage of the radioactive cloud over the British Isles. It has been reported (Smith and Clark, 1986) that the first radioactive material reached southern England during the morning of 2 May. While dry deposition may account for a small amount of radioactive contamination, the high levels reported from the north of England and Wales were associated with heavy rainfall washing the material out of the atmosphere (Fry et al, 1986).…”

“…While dry deposition may account for a small amount of radioactive contamination, the high levels reported from the north of England and Wales were associated with heavy rainfall washing the material out of the atmosphere (Fry et al, 1986). Smith and Clark (1986) suggest that Devon and Cornwall were not contaminated during the initial passage of the cloud. In addition there was no rain at North Wyke between midnight on 1 May 1986 and 23.30 h on 3 May 1986, by which time the cloud had passed well clear of southern England.…”

Large Lakes

“…This separation was favored by the meteorological conditions at the end of April 1986, when a long period of high pressure over central Europe induced temperatures above-average and allowed the fallout cloud to drift westward (Smith and Clark, 1986). This separation was favored by the meteorological conditions at the end of April 1986, when a long period of high pressure over central Europe induced temperatures above-average and allowed the fallout cloud to drift westward (Smith and Clark, 1986).…”