A revised IAEA data compilation for estimating the soil to plant transfer of radionuclides in tropical environments.

A revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Report Series No. 472 (TRS 472) transfer parameter data for root uptake of radionuclides by crops in tropical environments was conducted under the IAEA Modelling and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments (MODARIA II) programme (2016-2019). Data on concentration ratios between plant and soil (CRplant-soil) were collated and summarised following a specific data selection process based on the Köppen-Geiger classification of tropical (class A) climates. An overview of the data collation and analysis methods is presented together with a comparison of CRplant-soil values between the revised tropical dataset and TRS 472 datasets. The revised dataset of CRplant-soil values for tropical environments is part of the IAEA MODARIA II programme Technical Document on soil to plant transfer of radionuclides in non-temperate environments.

Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides (MODERN) - Part 1: A new conversion model to derive soil redistribution rates from inventories of fallout radionuclides.

The measurement of fallout radionuclides (FRN) has become one of the most commonly used tools to quantify sediment erosion or depositional processes. The conversion of FRN inventories into soil erosion and deposition rates is done with a variety of models, which suitability is dependent on the selected FRN, soil cultivation (ploughed or unploughed) and movement (erosion or deposition). The authors propose a new conversion model, which can be easily and comprehensively used for different FRN, land uses and soil redistribution processes. The new model MODERN (Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides) considers the precise depth distribution of any FRN at the reference site, and allows adapting it for any specific site conditions. MODERN adaptability and performance in converting different FRN inventories is discussed for a theoretical case as well as for two already published case studies i.e. a 137Cs study in an alpine and unploughed area in the Aosta valley (Italy) and a 210Pbex study on a ploughed area located in the Transylvanian Plain (Romania). The tests highlight a highly significant correspondence (i.e. correlation factor of 0.91) between the results of MODERN and the published results of other models currently used by the FRN scientific community (i.e. the Profile Distribution Model and the Mass Balance Model). The development and the cost free accessibility of MODERN (see modern.umweltgeo.unibas.ch) will ensure the promotion of wider application of FRNs for tracing soil erosion and sedimentation.

Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides (MODERN) - Part 2: A comparison of different models to convert 239+240Pu inventories into soil redistribution rates at unploughed sites.

Sheet erosion is one of the major threats to alpine soils. To quantify its role and impact in the degradation processes of alpine grasslands, the application of Fallout Radionuclides (FRN) showed very promising results. The specific characteristics of plutonium 239 + 240 (239+240Pu), such as the homogeneous fallout distribution, the long half-life and the cost and time effective measurements make this tracer application for investigating soil degradation in Alpine grasslands more suitable than any other FRN (e.g. 137Cs). However, the conversion of 239+240Pu inventories into soil erosion rates remains a challenge. Currently available conversion models have been developed mainly for 137Cs with later adaptation to other FRN (e.g. Excess 210Pb, and 7Be), each model being defined for specific land use (ploughed and/or unploughed) and processes (erosion or deposition). As such, they may fail in describing correctly the distribution of Pu isotopes in the soil. A new conversion model, MODERN, with an adaptable algorithm to estimate erosion and deposition rates from any FRN inventory changes was recently proposed (Arata et al., 2016). In this complementary contribution, the authors compare the application of MODERN to other available conversion models. The results show a good agreement between soil redistribution rates obtained from MODERN and from the models currently used by the FRN scientific community (i.e. the Inventory Method).

The use of tree bark as long term biomonitor of (137)Cs deposition.

Airborne (137)Cs originated from the nuclear tests in the atmosphere and from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was retained by the trees biomass and nowadays it can still be found in various concentrations in tree barks from Romania and other European countries. This study brings the first results of (137)Cs presence in tree bark from Romania on different considerations: (i) data dispersion in spruce and oak bark from NW, SW and central Romania, and the spatial variability of (137)Cs within oak and spruce bark from a natural protected forest area from Balvanyos area (Covasna County), known to be highly affected by the Chernobyl nuclear release; (ii) comparison of (137)Cs content in different tree bark species (oak, spruce, poplar and cherry); (iii) differences in (137)Cs concentrations with the bark depth layers and around the tree trunk; and (iv) comparison of mean (137)Cs values in spruce/oak bark from Romania with data from other European countries.

Uncertainty related to input parameters of (137)Cs soil redistribution model for undisturbed fields.

This study presents an alternative method to empirically establish the effective diffusion coefficient and the convective velocity of (137)Cs in undisturbed soils. This approach offers the possibility to improve the parameterisation and the accuracy of the (137)Cs Diffusion and Migration Model (DMM) used to assess soil erosion magnitudes. The impact of the different input parameters of this radiometric model on the derived-soil redistribution rates has been determined for a Romanian pastureland located in the northwest extremity of the Transylvanian Plain. By fitting the convection-diffusion equation to the available experimental data, the diffusion coefficient and convection velocity of (137)Cs in soil could be determined; 72% of the (137)Cs soil content could be attributed to the (137)Cs fallout originating from Chernobyl. The medium-term net erosion rate obtained with the calculated input parameters reached -6.6 t ha(-1) yr(-1). The model highlights great sensitivity to parameter estimations and the calculated erosion rates for undisturbed landscapes can be highly impacted if the input parameters are not accurately determined from the experimental data set. Upper and lower bounds should be established based on the determined uncertainty budget for the reliable estimates of the derived redistribution rates.