NDLI: Spatial variability in sedimentation rates and artificial radionuclide storage in alluvial banks of the lower Rhône River

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Provansal, M. Ferrand, E. Eyrolle, F. Raccasi, G. Monaco, M. Gurriaran, R.
Copyright Year	2012
Abstract	This paper analyzes the relationship between bank sediment storage and radionuclide content in six alluvial sites located in different geomorphic contexts along the lower Rhône River. The 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am and 210Pb profiles show different patterns, which indicates a differential storage of contaminated sediment in the banks. Three sites record historical nuclear releases in the river and give evidence for long-term retention of particle-reactive long-lived radionuclides. Two sites record only atmospheric global fallout. Only one site, connected to the river groundwater, provides some evidence for desorption of particle-bound contaminants, with a low and constant 137Cs activity profile. The history of the releases from the Marcoule spent-fuel reprocessing plant—the main source of artificial radioactivity—provides a reliable chronology of the last 50 years. Sediment grain size and bank topography are important factors in determining where artificial radionuclides are stored, but these two parameters cannot be used alone to determine variations in high concentrations of radionuclides. The chronology of fluvial geomorphic “metamorphosis” during the twentieth Century, especially after 1960, is also a critical factor affecting the spatial variability in sedimentation rates and artificial radionuclide storage; the timing of channel deepening and bank sedimentary accretion interfere with the chronology of major floods and the short period of low discharge during the height of contamination from nuclear liquid effluents. The reach-scale adjustment described in this paper can contribute to determining what the local history may have been. This result has important implications for river management decisions.
Starting Page	735
Ending Page	750
Page Count	16
File Format	PDF
ISSN	10151621
Journal	Aquatic Sciences
Volume Number	74
Issue Number	4
e-ISSN	14209055
Language	English
Publisher	SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Publisher Date	2012-03-17
Publisher Place	Basel
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Fluvial geomorphology 137Cs Plutonium Riverbanks Sedimentation Floods Rhône River Life Sciences Marine & Freshwater Sciences Ecology Oceanography Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Ecology Aquatic Science Water Science and Technology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

The use of remote sensing to characterise hydromorphological properties of European rivers

Implications of biological and physical diversity for resilience and resistance patterns within Highly Dynamic River Systems

Sub-daily rates of degradation of fluvial carbon from a peat headwater stream

Channel response to multiple damming in a meandering river, middle and lower Aragón River (Spain)

Indicators of river system hydromorphological character and dynamics: understanding current conditions and guiding sustainable river management

Diagnosing problems of fine sediment delivery and transfer in a lowland catchment

Hyporheic annelid distribution along a flow permanence gradient in an alluvial river

Effects of macrophytes and terrestrial inputs on fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a large river system

Perspectives on biogeomorphology, ecosystem engineering and self-organisation in island-braided fluvial ecosystems

Spatial variability in sedimentation rates and artificial radionuclide storage in alluvial banks of the lower Rhône River

Similar Documents

The use of remote sensing to characterise hydromorphological properties of European rivers

Implications of biological and physical diversity for resilience and resistance patterns within Highly Dynamic River Systems

Sub-daily rates of degradation of fluvial carbon from a peat headwater stream

Channel response to multiple damming in a meandering river, middle and lower Aragón River (Spain)

Indicators of river system hydromorphological character and dynamics: understanding current conditions and guiding sustainable river management

Diagnosing problems of fine sediment delivery and transfer in a lowland catchment

Hyporheic annelid distribution along a flow permanence gradient in an alluvial river

Effects of macrophytes and terrestrial inputs on fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a large river system

Perspectives on biogeomorphology, ecosystem engineering and self-organisation in island-braided fluvial ecosystems

Spatial variability in sedimentation rates and artificial radionuclide storage in alluvial banks of the lower Rhône River