Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2014

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Symbol M (Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary) » M-AG Applied Geosciences

[M-AG38_2PM1] Dynamics of radionuclides emitted from Fukuchima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant in the environment

Fri. May 2, 2014 2:15 PM - 4:00 PM 501 (5F)

Convener:*Kazuyuki Kita(Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University), Yuichi Onda(Center for Research on Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba), Teruyuki Nakajima(Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute), Yasuhito Igarashi(Atmospheric Environment and Applied Meteorology Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute), Jun Matsumoto(Deaprtment of Geography, Tokyo Metropolitan University), Masatoshi Yamada(Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University), Chisato Takenaka(Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University), masayoshi yamamoto(Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University), jota kanda(Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology), atsushi shinohara(Osaka university), Chair:Seiya Nagao(Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University)

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

[MAG38-16] Radiocesium wash-off associated with soil erosion from various land uses after the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident

*Yoshifumi WAKIYAMA1, Yuichi ONDA1, Kazuya YOSHIMURA2, Hiroaki KATO1 (1.Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba, 2.Headquaters of Fukushima Partnership Operations, IAEA)

Keywords:soil erosion, erosion plot, Cs-137

Soil erosion is the initial process which drives radiocesium into the aquatic systems and therefore the quantification of radiocesium wash-off associated with soil erosion is indispensable for mitigating the risks. This study presents two year’s observation of soil erosion and radiocesium wash-off to quantify differences in radiocesium behavior in various land uses. Seven runoff plots were established in four landscapes; uncultivated farmland (Farmland A1, Farmland B1), cultivated farmland (Farmland A2, Farmland B2), grassland (Grassland A, Grassland B) and Japanese cedar forest (Forest) in Kawamata town, an area affected by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The discharged sediments were collected approximately every two weeks. In laboratories, collected sediments were dried and weighed for calculating soil erosion rates (kg m-2) and served for measurements of radiocesium concentration (Bq kg-1) with HPGe detectors. The erosivity factor of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (R-factor: MJ mm ha-1 hr-1 yr-1) was calculated based on the data of precipitation. Standardized soil erosion rates (kg m-2 MJ-1 mm-1 ha hr yr), observed soil erosion rates divided by R-factor, was 1.8 × 10-4 in Farmland A1, 6.0 × 10-4 in Farmland A2, 1.5 × 10-3 in Farmland B1, 8.3 × 10-4 in Farmland B2, 9.6 × 10-6 in Grassland A, 5.9 × 10-6 in Grassland B and 2.3 × 10-6 in Forest. These erosion rates were basically proportional to their vegetation cover of soil surfaces except for cultivated farmlands. Concentrations of Cs-137 in eroded sediments basically depended on the local deposition of Cs-137 and varied enormously with ranging several orders of magnitude in all the landscapes. For the observation period of time decreasing trends in concentrations of Cs-137 in eroded sediments were not obvious. To compare these results with those of Chernobyl, we calculated normalized solid wash-off coefficient (m2 g-1) with dividing the mean total concentration of Cs-137 in sediments by local deposition of Cs-137 (Konoplev et al., 1992). The coefficient was 4.4 × 10-5 in Farmland A1, 1.3 × 10-5 in Farmland A2, 6.4 × 10-5 in Farmland B1, 1.0 × 10-5 in Farmland B2, 2.2 × 10-5 in Grassland A, 1.0 × 10-5 in Grassland B and 8.2 × 10-5 in Forest. High erodibilities and relatively low values of normalized wash-off coefficients in cultivated farmlands can be attributed to the mixing of surface soil by ploughing. These values almost corresponded to those of Chernobyl. It was found that the total solid wash-off coefficient of radiocesium from farmlands is high and for 2 years period of time after the accident reaches 10%. Generally high precipitation in the region and steep slopes promote higher wash-off of radiocesium as compared to the Chernobyl case. Also, normalized wash-off coefficients exhibited relatively less volatility than erodibilities in the landscapes. These results suggest that soil erosion management is crucial for mitigating risks of radiocesium.