Reconstruction of 137Cs signal in Cuba using 7Be as tracer of vertical transport processes in the atmosphere

C M Alonso Hernández; H Cartas Aguila; M Díaz Asencio; A Muñoz Caravaca

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2003.11.007

Reconstruction of 137Cs signal in Cuba using 7Be as tracer of vertical transport processes in the atmosphere

J Environ Radioact. 2004;75(2):133-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2003.11.007.

Authors

C M Alonso Hernández¹, H Cartas Aguila, M Díaz Asencio, A Muñoz Caravaca

Affiliation

¹ Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos, AP 5. Ciudad Nuclear, Cienfuegos, Cuba. carlos@ceac.perla.inf.cu

PMID: 15172723
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2003.11.007

Abstract

Levels of 137Cs and 7Be in aerosols have been measured in the region of Cienfuegos (Cuba) during the period 1994-1998. 137Cs showed the same seasonal trend as 7Be and the monthly regimes of precipitation seemed to be responsible for the observed pattern. The 137Cs/7Be ratio obtained in Cienfuegos and Miami (FL) in this period was used to calibrate the long-term database of 137Cs concentrations recorded in Miami (250 km from Cienfuegos). The database was then employed to reconstruct the 137Cs monthly concentrations in Cienfuegos since 1957.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Movements
Air Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
Atmosphere / analysis*
Beryllium / analysis*
Cesium Isotopes / analysis*
Cuba
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Florida
Radioisotopes / analysis*
Rain
Seasons
Time Factors

Substances

Air Pollutants, Radioactive
Cesium Isotopes
Radioisotopes
Beryllium