Sediment accumulation and bio-diffusion mixing rates derived from excess 210Pb and 137Cs profiles in sediment cores of Mumbai Harbor Bay

Abstract

Bio-diffusion mixing rates (Db) were estimated from depth profiles of excess 210Pb and 137Cs in three sediment cores collected from Mumbai Harbour Bay (MHB) using a steady state vertical advection - diffusion model. The mean of 210Pb and 137Cs derived Db values along the studied area were obtained to be about 23 and 36 cm2y−1 respectively. These derived values were within the range of literature values reported for other equivalent environment internationally. The relatively higher Db values for 137Cs profiles demonstrated that particles have diffused more intensely within the surface layer of sediments over 1 year. Conversely, low Db values for 210Pb indicate slow mixing rates in the sediment profile which might be resulted from low 210Pb flux and diffusion of 222Rn to the seafloor. The significant differences between 210Pb and 137Cs derived Db values among cores indicate that there appeared to be as regional differences in sediment properties and local variability in the intensity of seafloor mixing. Furthermore, Db values also depend on differences in characteristic time and depth scales of radionuclides in cores, benthic fauna abundances, organic carbon flux to the sediments and primary production in overlying surface waters. Comparison of 210Pb derived Db values with those calculated from 137Cs distributions reveals better agreement for core 2 than core 1 and 3. The agreement may be fortuitous because 137Cs appears significantly deeper than 210Pb in all cores. It was also observed that Db values increases as sediment accumulation rate increases for both radionuclide.