Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1016/j.nimb.2019.05.003
Titel (primär) 129I concentration in a high-mountain environment
Autor Kamleitner, S.; Lachner, J.; Steier, P.; Weise, S.M.; Kraushaar, S.
Quelle Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Erscheinungsjahr 2019
Department CATHYD
Band/Volume 456
Seite von 193
Seite bis 202
Sprache englisch
Keywords Anthropogenic radionuclide; Proglacial; Lateral moraines; European Alps; Kaunertal Valley; Altitude gradient; Dating; Tritium
Abstract The environmental abundance of 129I has been significantly increased in the Nuclear Age starting from the 1950s. Tons of anthropogenic 129I have been discharged into the environment through anthropogenic nuclear activities. This fact allows the relative dating of spring water samples, where low concentrations of 129I indicate waters with no surface contact since the 50s. In this regard, the present study aims to identify the relative age of spring waters in the Kaunertal Valley in Western Austria. More than fifty water samples were derived from precipitation collectors, springs, and directly from the Gepatschferner glacier. Measurement results cover 129I concentrations ranging from 1 × 106 to 5 × 108 atoms per litre. The variability of six springs, which were tested in July and September, was found to be negligible given the associated measurement uncertainties. No altitudinal dependence was found along the topographic gradient. Significant differences between high 129I concentrations of precipitation and low 129I contents of glacier samples were found and are considered beneficial to ascribe spring waters to pre-nuclear (older than 1950) or modern times of formation. Additional tritium analyses of selected water samples partly support the usage of 129I for relative dating.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22040
Kamleitner, S., Lachner, J., Steier, P., Weise, S.M., Kraushaar, S. (2019):
129I concentration in a high-mountain environment
Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 456 , 193 - 202 10.1016/j.nimb.2019.05.003