Soil redistribution model for undisturbed and cultivated sites based on Chernobyl-derived cesium-137 fallout.
Measurements of 137Cs fallout have been used in combination with a range of conversion models for the investigation of soil relocation mechanisms and sediment budgets in many countries for more than 20 yr. The objective of this paper is to develop a conversion model for quantifying soil redistribution, based on Chernobyl-derived 137Cs. The model is applicable on uncultivated as well as on cultivated sites, taking into account temporal changes in the 137Cs depth distribution pattern as well as tillage-induced 137Cs dilution effects. The main idea of the new model is the combination of a modified exponential model describing uncultivated soil with a Chapman distribution based model describing cultivated soil. The compound model subsequently allows a dynamic description of the Chernobyl derived 137Cs situation in the soil and its change, specifically migration and soil transport processes over the course of time. Using the suggested model at the sampling site in Pettenbach, in the Austrian province of Oberösterreich 137Cs depth distributions were simulated with a correlation coefficient of 0.97 compared with the measured 137Cs depth profile. The simulated rates of soil distribution at different positions at the sampling site were found to be between 27 and 60 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1). It was shown that the model can be used to describe the temporal changes of 137Cs depth distributions in cultivated as well as uncultivated soils. Additionally, the model allows to quantify soil redistribution in good correspondence with already existing models.
Univ. of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science (BOKU), Dep. für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften, Institut für Bodenforschung, Peter Jordanstrasse 92, 1190 Vienna, Austria. markus.hrachowitz@boku.ac.at
Markus
M
Hrachowitz
Franz-Josef
FJ
Maringer
Christian
C
Steineder
Martin H
MH
Gerzabek
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011210:Power Plants; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014455:Ukraine
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive