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Vertical distributions of 137Cs in soils: a meta-analysis

  • SOILS, SEC 2 • GLOBAL CHANGE, ENVIRON RISK ASSESS, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The vertical distribution of 137Cs—an artificial fallout radionuclide—is controlled by soil characteristics and processes that may differ among soil groups. The application of a single modelling approach to large number of soil profiles provides an original contribution to the literature and allows for comparison between these different soil groups.

Materials and methods

In order to quantify 137Cs migration in soils, we compiled and modelled depth-distributed data documented in the literature published before 2013. The resulting database comprised ninety-nine 137Cs profiles sampled in 14 soil groups of the World Reference Base (WRB) classification (FAO 1998) under different land uses or covers and collected at various geographical locations in the Northern hemisphere between 1992 and 2007.

Results and discussion

The 137Cs profiles were classified in seven different categories according to the shape and location of radiocaesium peak. Depth of the latter ranged between 0 and 12 cm (median of 2 cm) and maximal penetration of cesium reached from 12 to 60 cm. The 137Cs depth distributions in these soils were fitted using a diffusion-convection equation to allow comparison between different soil groups. Diffusion coefficients ranged from 0.02 to 4.44 cm2 years−1 in soils (median of 0.64 cm2 year−1), and convection velocities varied from 0 to 0.74 cm year−1 (median of 0.1 cm year−1). The model underestimated 137Cs concentrations by a median value of 1.9 % of the total inventory in soil samples collected below a 13-cm depth.

Conclusions

Global 137Cs penetration velocities ranged from 0.05 to 0.76 cm year−1 (median of 0.28 cm year−1) over a 25-year period. Our results showed that modelling 137Cs depth profile with a diffusion-convection equation allowed estimating the bioturbation and clay translocation velocity in a certain number of soil groups. This quantification is crucial as these processes partially control the development of soil surface characteristics and several soil services.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Jérôme Balesdent for his helpful advises, as well to Dr. Frédéric Golay, Dr. Cédric Galusinski and Dr. Gloria Faccanoni for their help with model simulations. We thank the French Research Agency (ANR) that funded the Agriped project (ANR 10 Blanc 605). M. Jagercikova received a PhD fellowship from the French National Institute of Agronomy (INRA). We are also grateful to Dr. Luise Giani, Dr. Gwen Milton, Dr. Concepción Olondo Castro and Dr. Klas Rosén for kindly providing their soil datasets and additional information regarding their studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, UR1119 Géochimie des Sols et des Eaux, 13100, Aix en Provence, France

    Marianna Jagercikova & Sophie Cornu

  2. INRA, US 1106 Infosol, 45075, Orléans, France

    Christine Le Bas

  3. LSCE, UMR8212 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Domaine du CNRS, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

    Olivier Evrard

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  1. Marianna Jagercikova
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  2. Sophie Cornu
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  3. Christine Le Bas
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Correspondence to Sophie Cornu.

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Responsible editor: Ying Ouyang

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Jagercikova, M., Cornu, S., Le Bas, C. et al. Vertical distributions of 137Cs in soils: a meta-analysis. J Soils Sediments 15, 81–95 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-0982-5

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