Assessment of~(137)Cs and ~(90)Sr Fluxes in the Barents Sea

摘要

The annual balance of radionuclides inflow/outflow was assessed for ~(137)Cs and ~(90)Sr isotopes in the Barents Sea, taking into account the atmospheric precipitation, inflow from the Norwegian and the White seas, as well as riverine discharge, liquid radioactive waste disposal (LRWD), and outflow to the adjacent seas. The original and published data for the period of 1950—2009 were analyzed. According to the multiyear dynamics (1960-2009), the inflow of ~(137)Cs and ~(90)Sr into the Barents Sea was significantly preconditioned by the Norwegian Sea currents; and precipitation played a major role in the 1950s, 1960s, and in 1986. Currently, the trans-border redeposition of Sr prevails over '37Cs redeposition in the Barents Sea, and constitutes about 99% of inflow of each element.