Distribution of environmental tritium in rivers, groundwater, mine water and precipitation in Goa, India

Abstract

Tritium concentration in rivers, groundwater, precipitation and mine pits water, all over Goa state was characterized to find out spatial and temporal variability of tritium. Twenty four water samples were collected during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon and analyzed for their tritium concentration. The mean tritium concentration in surface and sub-surface hydrosphere is 2.5 (±0.6) TU. The mean concentration of tritium in rivers, groundwater, mines pits water and rain water are 2.9 (±0.5) TU, 1.95 (±0.5) TU, 2.5(±0.3) TU and 3.1(±0.1) TU respectively. The tritium distribution in all the samples shows modern precipitation (post-1950) component in surface and sub-surface hydrosphere of Goa. The HYSPLIT4.0 air mass trajectory model and atmospheric circulation pattern suggest that the moisture origin was from the Arabian Sea and this low tritium moisture is diluting the tritium concentration of surface hydrosphere near the coastal area. The tritium concentration in surface hydrosphere shows more and more enrichment as one move inland (i.e. away from the coast). Significant seasonal change is observed in the surface hydrosphere. The pre-monsoon samples showed higher tritium concentration than post-monsoon samples. This may be due to high rate of re-evaporation of water and a reduction in the supply of oceanic moisture during the summer (pre-monsoon).

Keywords: Continental effect; Groundwater; HYSPLIT; Precipitation; Surface water; Tritium.