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Changes of sedimentation environment inferred from fallout radionuclides and physical properties of sediment in Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan

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Abstract

This study describes the impact of dam construction at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan, on lacustrine sedimentation. Analyses of the physical properties of sediment cores show that the surface sediment has two layers: the post-dam layer consisting of high-density, organic-poor sediment, and the underlying pre-dam layer consisting of organic-rich sediment. After correction for decay since initial deposition, the estimated concentration of excess 210Pb in the pre-dam layer was much higher than that in the present surface layer. These results indicate that the dam construction had a large impact on supply of 210Pb and the sedimentation environment in this lake.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. J.W. Lin, Mr. W.H. Chen, and colleagues at the National Taiwan University for their support. We are grateful to Dr. K. Fukushi, Dr. S. Tamamura, Mr. H. Fukumoto, and Mr. Yabe at Kanazawa University, Japan, for their assistance in the sediment analyses. We also thank Mr. H.Z. Su, Mr. Y.Q. Chen, and Mr. W.Q. Shi of the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. Additionally, we thank Mr. K.P. Lin and Mr. J.H. Zheng of the Taiwan Power Company for their help in obtaining information about Sun Moon Lake. This study was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan

    Shinya Ochiai, Seiya Nagao & Kenji Kashiwaya

  2. Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jiun-Chuan Lin

  3. Center of Environment Education and Safety Health, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chia-Hung Jen

Authors
  1. Shinya Ochiai
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  2. Jiun-Chuan Lin
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  3. Chia-Hung Jen
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  4. Seiya Nagao
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  5. Kenji Kashiwaya
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Correspondence to Shinya Ochiai.

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Ochiai, S., Lin, JC., Jen, CH. et al. Changes of sedimentation environment inferred from fallout radionuclides and physical properties of sediment in Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 316, 1181–1187 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5854-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5854-9

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