¹³⁷Cs activity distribution in the Lithuanian coastal waters of the Baltic Sea

Abstract

The main 137Cs accumulation zone in the study area was foundto be located at depths below the 50-metre isobath, i.e. below the layer of hydrodynamic activity.In coastal waters not influenced by the fresh water discharge from the Curonian Lagoon,137Cs occurs mostly in soluble form. The particulate 137Cs activity concentrationin the marine area affected by Curonian Lagoon water can make up 10% of the total 137Csactivity concentration. The circulation model was developed to assess the distributionof artificial radionuclides in Lithuanian territorial waters. The model was validated on the basis of data acquired during the measurement campaign in the Lithuanian part of the Baltic Sea and the CuronianLagoon in the years 1999-2001. The model enables the 137Cs activity concentration to besimulated as a passive admixture (error within c. 15%).

Keywords

• Radiocaesium
• Activity concentration
• Specific activity
• Baltic Sea
• Curonian Lagoon
• Hydrodynamic model