Vertical dispersion of Chernobyl fallout by meltwater in a temperate alpine glacier

Authors

  • Walter Ambach Institute for Medical Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck , Austria Author
  • Wolfgang Rehwald Institute for Medical Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck , Austria Author
  • Mario Blumthaler Institute for Medical Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck , Austria Author
  • Heinrich Eisner Institute for Experimental Physics, University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria Author
  • Peter Brunner Institute for Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria Author

Abstract

Gross-beta-activity of snow samples from 10 vertical profiles was measured with respect to their contamination by fallout from the Chernobyl reactor accident. Samples were collected on Kesselwandferner (Ötztal Alps, Austria) in the years 1986, 1987 and 1988. Peak activity concentrations decrease from >100 Bq/kg (1986) to <10 Bq/kg (1988), however, a dispersion of the contaminated range to depths of about 11 m is observed, while the contamination per unit area remained almost constant. With gamma-spectroscopy the isotopes 137Cs and 134Cs were detected as dominant.

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Published

2024-07-10

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (1989)

Section

Short communication

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Walter Ambach, Wolfgang Rehwald, Mario Blumthaler, Heinrich Eisner, Peter Brunner (Author)

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