Radionuclides in Mono Lake, California
Simpson HJ, Trier RM, Toggweiler JR, Mathieu G, Deck BL, Olsen CR, Hammond DE, Fuller C, Ku. TL. 1982. Radionuclides in Mono Lake, California. Science. 216(4545):512-514
Several radioisotopes of the naturally occuring uranium and thorium decay series, in addition to fallout plutonium, have unusually high concentrations in the water column of Mono Lake, a natural alkaline, saline lake. Complexing by carbonate ions appears to be responsible for the enhanced solubility of actinide elements with oxidation states of IV to VI. In contrast, fallout strontium-90 has been largely removed from the water, probably as a result of coprecipitation with calcium carbonate. The daughter/parent activity ratios of thorium, radium, and uranium isotopes suggest that thorium is removed from the water column to the sediments on time scales substantially longer than a month and that the desoprtion of thorium from the sediments to the water column requires less than a few years.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Simpson, H; Trier, R; Toggweiler, J; Mathieu, G; Deck, B; Olsen, C; Hammond, D; Fuller, C; Ku., T
- Units
- YOSE
- Keywords
- Activity, Analysis, California, Fallout, Geochemistry, Geology, Hydrochemistry, Hydrology, Isotopes, Lakes, Limnology, Mono County, Mono Lake, Pacific Coast, Pollution, radioactive decay, Radioactive Isotopes, Surface Water, Western U.S.