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

首席研究员将确定颗粒反应性污染物从巴伦支海大陆架向北冰洋深海盆输送的机制和途径。他将追踪从位于新地岛南岸的切尔纳亚湾前核试验场发出的钚示踪剂信号，直到北冰洋。切尔诺贝利湾的大量（11 TBq）钚库存来自于20世纪50年代的水下核试验，其特点是240Pu /239Pu的比率很低，为0.03，这提供了一个容易测量的对比值（使用ICP-MS技术），0.18是典型的大气沉降物。马卡罗夫盆地和欧亚盆地的表层沉积物具有较低的240Pu /239Pu比率（0.09-0.16），假设这种钚的重要组成部分是来自切尔纳亚湾的远程运输的结果。首席研究员将通过跟踪在新地岛西部和圣安娜槽的钚羽流路径横断面上收集的沉积物盒芯样品中的低240Pu /239Pu比值信号来评估切尔纳亚湾钚的北移。将对沉积物样本进行全套放射性核素（210铅、137铯、241镅、239钚、240钚）分析，以确定每个地点的沉积和混合速率，并评估钚通量和库存。这些结果将得到放射性核素沿新地岛西海岸和欧亚盆地在溶解和颗粒阶段传播的流体动力学模型的支持。最初的放射性核素测量将在储存在伯德极地研究中心的存档沉积物样本上进行。在第二年，将在经过精心设计的羽流路径的横断面上收集更多的样本。这项研究的结果将为评估将在新地岛南海岸建造的一个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基础。这些结果将有助于预测从位于北极大陆架的广泛城市和工业来源通过北冰洋输送的无机和有机颗粒反应性污染物的大小。

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.