Propagation of the Low 240 Pu/239 Pu Signal From the Southern Barents Sea Into Central Arctic Ocean: A Key to Understanding the Transport of Particle-Reactive Contaminants

Polyak首席研究员将确定从巴伦支海大陆架向北冰洋盆地深处输送颗粒反应性污染物的机制和途径。 他将跟踪从新岛南海岸切尔纳亚湾前核试验场发射到北冰洋的钚示踪剂信号。 切尔纳亚湾的大量钚存量（11 TBq）来自1950年代的水下核试验，其特点是240 Pu/239 Pu的比值很低，为0.03，这与大气沉降物的典型值0.18相比，很容易测量（使用ICP-MS技术）。 在马卡罗夫和欧亚盆地的表层沉积物具有较低的240钚/239钚比率（0.09-0.16），据推测，这种钚的一个重要组成部分是长距离运输的结果从切尔纳亚湾。 主要研究员将通过跟踪沉积物盒芯样品中240 Pu/239 Pu低比率信号，评估Chernaya湾钚的北向迁移，这些样品是在横跨新地岛以西和圣安娜安娜海槽钚羽路径的横断面上采集的。将对沉积物样品进行一整套放射性核素（铅210、铯137、钚241、钚239、钚240）分析，以确定每个地点的沉积和混合速率，并评估钚通量和存量。 这些结果将得到放射性核素扩散的水动力学模型的支持，无论是在溶解和颗粒相，沿着新地岛西海岸和进入欧亚盆地。 将对储存在伯德极地研究中心的存档沉积物样品进行初步放射性核素测量。 在第二年期间，将在经过精心设计的羽流路径上收集更多的样本。 这项研究的结果将为评估拟在新地岛南海岸建造的新的放射性废物储存设施可能释放的放射性核素的影响提供依据。 这些结果将有助于预测无机和有机颗粒反应性污染物从位于北极大陆架上的广泛的城市和工业来源通过北冰洋运输的规模。

AbstractOPP 99-08871PolyakThe Principal Investigator will determine the mechanisms and pathways for the transport of particle-reactive contaminants from the Barents Sea continental shelf into the deep Arctic Ocean basin. He will track the plutonium tracer signal emanating from the former nuclear test site of Chernaya Bay, on the south coastline of Novaya Zemlya, into the Arctic Ocean. The large (11 TBq) inventory of plutonium in Chernaya Bay, derived from underwater nuclear tests in the 1950s, is characterized by low 240Pu /239Pu ratios of 0.03 which provide an easily measured contrast (using ICP-MS techniques) to values of 0.18, typical of atmospheric fallout. Surficial sediments in the Makarov and Eurasian Basins have low 240Pu /239Pu ratios (0.09-0.16) and it is hypothesized that a significant component of this plutonium is the result of long-range transport from Chernaya Bay. The Principal Investigator will evaluate the north transport of Chernaya Bay plutonium by following the low 240Pu /239Pu ratio signal in sediment box-core samples collected on transects across the pathway of the plutonium plume west of Novaya Zemlya and in the Saint Anna Trough. The sediment samples will be analyzed for a complete suite of radionuclides (210lead, 137cesium, 241americum, 239 plutonium, 240plutonium) to establish sedimentation and mixing rates at each location and in order to evaluate the plutonium fluxes and inventories. These results will be supported by hydrodynamic modeling of radionuclide propagation, both in dissolved and particulate phases, along the west coast of Novaya Zemlya and into the Eurasian Basin. The initial radionuclide measurements will be conducted on archived sediment samples stored at the Byrd Polar Research Center. Additional samples will be collected on transects across the elaborated plume pathway during the second year. The results of this study will provide a basis for assessing the impact of potential radionuclide releases from a new radioactive waste storage facility to be constructed on the south coast of Novaya Zemlya. These results will help in predicting the magnitude of inorganic and organic particle-reactive contaminant transport through the Arctic Ocean from a wide range of urban and industrial sources located on the arctic continental shelf.