Abstract
An analysis of the variations in the concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides in the Baltic Sea surface waters after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was performed. An instability of the 137Cs concentration values during the short-term observations was found, when these values were differed 2-to 3-fold. The concentrations of 90Sr appeared to be more stable; meanwhile, their deviations sometimes exceeded the ranges of the experimental errors. By the variations in the monthly average values of the radionuclide concentrations in the surface waters of the Baltic Sea in 1989–1995, no trend of the water self-purification was observed. The theoretical results obtained confirmed the potential of the formation and propagation of patches with increased concentrations of 137Cs in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea. The most reliable factor that controlled the process of self-purification of the Baltic Sea water appeared to be the mean annual value of the concentration of radionuclides. Pronounced divergences were obtained between the measured and calculated mean annual concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides in the surface waters of the Baltic Sea in 1989–2001. These divergences are explained by the potential influence of the waters from the Gulf of Bothnia and by other additional supplies of radionuclides to the marine environment, which were not included into the mathematical models.
Published Version
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