Spatial variability of fallout Caesium-137 in Austrian alpine regions

Lettner, Herbert; Bossew, Peter; Hubmer, Alexander

doi:10.1016/s0265-931x(99)00023-5

Cited by 53 publications

(49 citation statements)

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“…For example, Lettner et al (2000) used three grids with areas of 10 000 m 2 , 100 m 2 , and 1 m 2 , each of which contained 81 sampling points for a study on the spatial variability of 137 Cs. The smaller area grids were nested within the larger grid, such that 235 samples were taken in all.…”

Section: Sample Spacing and Layoutmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing field studies in soil science

Pennock

2004

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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Field research in soil science ranges from modal profile descriptions in support of soil survey to elaborate manipulative experimental designs. All of these field approaches make a valuable contribution to soil science, but researchers who do not use either classical manipulative experimental or geostatistical designs have little guidance (or encouragement) available to them. Well-designed field research of any type requires a clear definition of the research question; a thorough review of the literature to establish the state of knowledge; definition of the population under study and the elements that comprise it; and choice of appropriate scales for sampling support, spacing, and study extent based on an understanding of the underlying processes. For studies where hypothesis testing is appropriate, the hypotheses should be based on sound biological or physical reasoning, and sufficient replicates should be taken to ensure a reliable test. The major challenge in field research design is the development of landscape-scale research designs to examine complex interactions among hydrological, climatic, chemical, and biological processes at scales relevant for environmental management. Key words: Research design, landscape-scale , soil genesis, pattern studies, hypothesis testing, spatial statistics, sampling, cesium

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Section: Sample Spacing and Layoutmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing field studies in soil science

Pennock

2004

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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“…Therefore, in some areas a significant small-scale variability in 137 Cs distribution may be expected. As already pointed out by Lettner et al (1999) and Owens and Walling (1996), this might impede the comparison between reference and sampling sites. To adequately consider the spatial variability in the FRN fallout, multiple reference sites should be selected and the variability within the sites properly addressed (Kirchner, 2013;Mabit et al, 2013;Pennock and Appleby, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Finally, the collection of the samples, the preparation process and gamma analysis might introduce a certain level of uncertainty, which should be carefully considered. For instance, Lettner et al (1999) estimated that preparation and measuring processes contribute 12.2 % to the overall variability in the reference inventory. Guidance in the form of independent indicators (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decision support for the selection of reference sites using <sup>137</sup>Cs as a soil erosion tracer

Arata

Meusburger

Bürge

et al. 2017

SOIL

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Abstract. The classical approach of using 137 Cs as a soil erosion tracer is based on the comparison between stable reference sites and sites affected by soil redistribution processes; it enables the derivation of soil erosion and deposition rates. The method is associated with potentially large sources of uncertainty with major parts of this uncertainty being associated with the selection of the reference sites. We propose a decision support tool to Check the Suitability of reference Sites (CheSS). Commonly, the variation among 137 Cs inventories of spatial replicate reference samples is taken as the sole criterion to decide on the suitability of a reference inventory. Here we propose an extension of this procedure using a repeated sampling approach, in which the reference sites are resampled after a certain time period. Suitable reference sites are expected to present no significant temporal variation in their decay-corrected 137 Cs depth profiles. Possible causes of variation are assessed by a decision tree. More specifically, the decision tree tests for (i) uncertainty connected to small-scale variability in 137 Cs due to its heterogeneous initial fallout (such as in areas affected by the Chernobyl fallout), (ii) signs of erosion or deposition processes and (iii) artefacts due to the collection, preparation and measurement of the samples; (iv) finally, if none of the above can be assigned, this variation might be attributed to "turbation" processes (e.g. bioturbation, cryoturbation and mechanical turbation, such as avalanches or rockfalls). CheSS was exemplarily applied in one Swiss alpine valley where the apparent temporal variability called into question the suitability of the selected reference sites. In general we suggest the application of CheSS as a first step towards a comprehensible approach to test for the suitability of reference sites.

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“…Montgomery et al (1997) used two sample networks, respectively with 110 and 48 samples, to estimate the variogram of the interested process. Lettner et al (2000) applied three sampling networks with areas of 10m 2 , 100m 2 and 1000m 2 , each containing 81sampling points. The smaller area networks of sampling were nested within the larger one, such that 235 samples were taken in their case study to perform an in-depth geostatistical analysis of the 137 Cs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal network design for spatial prediction of soil redistribution (137Cs) based on a minimax approach

Rivaz¹,

Hosseinalizadeh²,

Pebesma³

2014

EJSS

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Article Info Received : 24.12.2013 Accepted : 18.03.2014 Measuring 137 Cs is considered an effective method to study soil redistribution rate and hence needs sampling at a number of sites. The spatial configuration of the network of sites to be sampled has a substantial effect on the soil redistribution assessment. Here, motivated by sampling 137 Cs, we adopted a model-based approach. For this, we chose the average kriging variance (AKV) as a design criterion. In fact, by minimizing the AKV of soil 137 Cs prediction in the paired sub-catchments of Iran's Golestan province, we determined the optimal sampling design in the case that no directly measured prior information of the primary variable of interest ( 137 Cs) is available. However, the AKV depends on some unknown parameters and preliminary estimates of model parameters are not available. To overcome this problem, we apply the minimax approach which minimizes the maximum value of design criterion over the misspecification of parameters. The method is illustrated taking into account the ancillary information (slope%) from representative Sub-catchments (Sample and Testifier, each around 190 ha in size). A simulated annealing algorithm is used to search for an optimal design from among all possible designs. Since, the number of sampling points is often limited by time and budgetary constraints, we use a sequential-based method for selecting the sample size. It is shown that 60 sites are sufficient for the proposed Sample and Testifier sub-catchments.

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Spatial variability of fallout Caesium-137 in Austrian alpine regions

Cited by 53 publications

References 0 publications

Designing field studies in soil science

Designing field studies in soil science

Decision support for the selection of reference sites using <sup>137</sup>Cs as a soil erosion tracer

Optimal network design for spatial prediction of soil redistribution (137Cs) based on a minimax approach

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Spatial variability of fallout Caesium-137 in Austrian alpine regions

Cited by 53 publications

References 0 publications

Designing field studies in soil science

Designing field studies in soil science

Decision support for the selection of reference sites using &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs as a soil erosion tracer

Optimal network design for spatial prediction of soil redistribution (137Cs) based on a minimax approach

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Decision support for the selection of reference sites using <sup>137</sup>Cs as a soil erosion tracer