Integrated nuclear techniques for sedimentation assessment in Latin American region

Abstract

The paper shows the novel techniques introduction in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean in order to strengthen the surveillance and monitoring of the sedimentation phenomenon in the surface water reservoirs. The integrated use of the nuclear techniques allows a more complete assessment of water and land sustainability. With the development of a regional project, supported by the International Agency of Atomic Energy, Cuba participates as technical leader for 15 countries, to encourage and implement the integrated application of 3 nuclear techniques (Fallout Radionuclides (137Cs, 7Be, 210Pb), Compound Specific Stable Isotopes (fatty acids of the ∂13C) and the Isotopic Hydrology (18O, 2H, 3H). The methodology used in the last studies referred to RLA 5076 Project is to apply the integration of these three techniques allows evaluating, in the hydraulic facilities and surface water reservoirs, the negative sedimentation impacts in natural and anthropic process as environmental and social risk. These techniques evaluate the sedimentation process and its synergy, obtaining since the soil quantification in the landscape, definition the soil origin deposited until the dynamic characterization of the water body as soil receptor. The integrated application of these nuclear techniques in the Project RLA-5076 confirms it as a useful tool to support the decisions makers in the definition of the national strategies and programs related to the land and the water resources sustainability. With the support of the IAEA projects in the Latin American and Caribbean region, has been evidenced an important increment in the use of these novel techniques.

Keywords

• Nuclear technique
• Sedimentation
• Water reservoir
• Soil
• Land
• Hydric resources