Abstract

Research : Atmospheric and hydrospheric sciences

The seasonal variations of atmospheric 134,137Cs activity and possible host particles for their resuspension in the contaminated areas of Tsushima and Yamakiya, Fukushima, Japan

Kinase T, Kita K, Igarashi Y, Adachi K, Ninomiya K, Shinohara A, Okochi H, Ogata H, Ishizuka M, Toyoda S, Yamada K, Yoshida N, Zaizen Y, Mikami M, Demizu H, Onda Y
Keywords:
Radiocesium, Atmospheric radioactivity, Seasonal variation, Resuspension, Fukushima, Nuclear accident, Bioaerosol, Spore, Mineral dust, Host particle

A large quantity of radionuclides was released by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, and those deposited on ground and vegetation could return to the atmosphere through resuspension processes. Although the resuspension has been proposed to occur with wind blow, biomass burning, ecosystem activities, etc., the dominant process in contaminated areas of Fukushima is not fully understood. We have examined the resuspension process of radiocesium (134,137Cs) based on long-term measurements of the atmospheric concentration of radiocesium activity (the radiocesium concentration) at four sites in the contaminated areas of Fukushima as well as the aerosol characteristic observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the measurement of the biomass burning tracer, levoglucosan.

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SpringerOpen

The image of resuspension process which of the scoop for our article. The radioactive aerosols which were released from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were deposited to the broad area by advection and diffusion and repeat deposition and resuspension.

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Time series of (a) radiocesium concentrations, (b) wind speeds, (c) temperatures, and (d) rain/snow precipitation. We can see two maxima in the higher concentration seasons: in May and September. The first maxima occurred with wind speed peaks, and the second maxima occurred with atmospheric temperature peaks.

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