Abstract
A study of spatial structure of 137 Cs contamination field was performed 1,8 km north to set. St. Vyshkov, Bryansk oblast in pine forest on the Iput river terrace with sandy podzolic soils and pronounced relief. 137 Cs was used as a tracer of atmospheric pollutant migration to test the hypothesis of a regular character of the secondary 137 Cs redistribution in natural landscapes and its dependence on landscape structure. In 2005–2007 95% to 98% of the total 137 Cs activity was still preserved in the upper 15–20-cm soil layer. Field gamma–spectrometry performed in nested grids (5 m for the whole area; 1 m for 5 × 5 m plot; 0,2 m for 1 × 1 m plot) revealed a system of 137 Cs polycentric anomalies at different scales. Detailed cross-sections along and cross the slopes with the step of 0,5 m and 1 m showed specific wave-like variation of surface activity often inversely related to micro-relief that is believed to result from 137 Cs involvement in water and snow-melting mass migration after the aerial fallout. In mosses 137 Cs also showed regular spatial distribution related to that in topsoil. The study proved that technogenic radionuclides formed a definite spatial polycentric structure in natural landscapes that should be accounted of in sampling strategy and in estimates of spatial variation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
