Tritium injection and concentration distribution in the atmosphere
| Autor: | G. Sauzay, W. R. Schell, B. R. Payne |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1970 |
| Předmět: |
Atmospheric Science
Radionuclide Ecology Meteorology Paleontology Soil Science Forestry Aquatic Science Oceanography Atmospheric sciences Troposphere Atmosphere Geophysics Space and Planetary Science Geochemistry and Petrology Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Environmental science Tritium Precipitation Water cycle Stratosphere Water vapor Earth-Surface Processes Water Science and Technology |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Geophysical Research. 75:2251-2266 |
| ISSN: | 0148-0227 |
| DOI: | 10.1029/jc075i012p02251 |
| Popis: | The use of environmental tritium as a water tracer has significantly increased our understanding of hydrological processes. Because of the large stratospheric reservoir of tritium produced by nuclear detonations and the relatively slow mixing rates between the stratosphere and the troposphere, studies of meteorological parameters of transport and diffusion can be made over many years. If the nuclear test ban treaty is observed and if no more large atmospheric nuclear detonations are conducted, the seasonal and annual changes in the atmospheric tritium distribution can give important information on the hydrological cycle and on meteorological effects. This paper relates stratospheric injection for a water tracer to the concentration of tracer in precipitation by means of meteorological parameters. A simplified model has been developed that relates injection, exchange, evaporation, condensation of water vapor, and tritium to meteorological parameters in the troposphere. Since the form of the model is general, tritium, fallout radionuclide, deuterium, and oxygen 18 data can be used as tracers to test the basic assumptions and to examine the physical processes that are occurring. The model was tested with meteorological data and tritium concentrations in precipitation from the IAEA/WMO World Network of sampling stations. The results of the initial application of the model to western Europe are presented. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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