Horizontal Distribution of Some Artificial Radionuclides in Sediments Collected Off the Rhone Mouth (Gulf of Lions-Mediterranean Sea) |
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Authors: | M Arnaud S Charmasson |
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Institution: | Institut de Protection et de S?reté Nucléaire, Département de Protection de l'Environment et des Installations , BP 330, 83507, La Seyne sur mer Cedex, France |
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Abstract: | Abstract The Rhône delta is a typical microtidal estuary. River runoff spreads out into the Gulf of Lions as a surface plume influenced by the prevailing N or NW wind and the Liguro-Provençal-Catalan current. in the prodelta, sediments form a filter that traps radionuclides released by the different nuclear installations on the Rhône River and which are associated with fine particles. the horizontal distribution of various artificial radionuclides shows the highest concentrations at the Rhône River mouth. There,137Cs reaches 86.6 and 94.4 Bq·kg?1 dry wt. and is still present 10 miles away (32.5 Bq·kg?1 dry wt.) in the southwestward direction (influence of the general circulation). Data obtained in the sediment at Roustan station between 1980 and 1990 show that in 1990, 137Cs levels were similar to those found previous to the Chernobyl accident. |
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Keywords: | Horizontal distribution radionuclides sediment Gulf of Lions Mediterranean Sea |
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