Plutonium and americium isotopes as alternative chronostratigraphic markers in tropical regions: An application in the Havana Bay (Cuba)

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_F87601CF71B2
Type
Inproceedings: an article in a conference proceedings.
Publication sub-type
Abstract (Abstract): shot summary in a article that contain essentials elements presented during a scientific conference, lecture or from a poster.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Plutonium and americium isotopes as alternative chronostratigraphic markers in tropical regions: An application in the Havana Bay (Cuba)
Title of the conference
International Symposium on Isotopes in Hydrology, Marine Ecosystems, and Climate Change Studies (IAEA)
Author(s)
Corcho Alvarado J.A., Diaz-Asencio M., Alonso Hernàndez C.M., Froidevaux P., Bochud F., Sanchez Cabeza J.A.
Address
Monaco, France, March 27-April 1, 2011
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Language
english
Abstract
The low 137Cs activity observed in marine sediments of tropical regions often precludes its use as chronostratigraphic marker. Here we present a study on the use of Pu and Am radioisotopes as alternative markers to constrain the 210Pb ages in a sediment core of the Havana Bay (Cuba). Mean activity ratios of 238Pu/239,240Pu, 241Am/239,240Pu and 241Pu/239,240Pu indicated that the nuclear weapon tests fallout is the main source of the anthropogenic radionuclides. While the inventory of 137Cs in the sediments is lower than the expected fallout inventory, 239,240Pu accumulates in the sediments with inventories higher than the expected fallout inventory. The high fluxes of 239,240Pu are nevertheless corroborated here through use of 210Pb, and confirm that focusing of solid particles is of great importance in the investigated site. 239,240Pu showed to be a useful time tracer in marine sites where the 137Cs signal is very low.
Create date
08/04/2011 9:04
Last modification date
20/08/2019 17:24
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