title: Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides (MODERN) - Part 2: A comparison of different models to convert239+240Pu inventories into soil redistribution rates at unploughed sites.
abstract: Sheet erosion is one of the major threats to alpine soils. To quantify its role and impact in the degradation processes of alpine grasslands, the application of Fallout Radionuclides (FRN) showed very promising results. The specific characteristics of plutonium 239 + 240 (239+240Pu), such as the homogeneous fallout distribution, the long half-life and the cost and time effective measurements make this tracer application for investigating soil degradation in Alpine grasslands more suitable than any other FRN (e.g.137Cs). However, the conversion of239+240Pu inventories into soil erosion rates remains a challenge. Currently available conversion models have been developed mainly for137Cs with later adaptation to other FRN (e.g. Excess210Pb, and7Be), each model being defined for specific land use (ploughed and/or unploughed) and processes (erosion or deposition). As such, they may fail in describing correctly the distribution of Pu isotopes in the soil. A new conversion model, MODERN, with an adaptable algorithm to estimate erosion and deposition rates from any FRN inventory changes was recently proposed (Arata et al., 2016). In this complementary contribution, the authors compare the application of MODERN to other available conversion models. The results show a good agreement between soil redistribution rates obtained from MODERN and from the models currently used by the FRN scientific community (i.e. the Inventory Method).
authors.affiliation: Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: laura.arata@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arata
authors.affiliation: Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alewell
authors.affiliation: Institute de Recherche Mathématique Avancée (IRMA), University of Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frenkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: A'Campo-Neuen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Consolidated Radioisotope Facility, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK.
authors.forename: Andra-Rada
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Iurian
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ketterer
authors.affiliation: Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, Seibersdorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mabit
authors.affiliation: Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meusburger
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D065948:Grassland; D006207:Half-Life; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D011005:Plutonium
keywords: Diffusion and migration model; Inventory method; Plutonium; Profile distribution model; Proportional model; Soil erosion