Tracer Applications of Radiocaesium in a Coastal Marine Environment

McKinley, Ian Gerard (1979) Tracer Applications of Radiocaesium in a Coastal Marine Environment. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Abstract

In this study radiocaesium is confirmed as a versatile tracer and its use is demonstrated in the investigation of a wide range of processes occuring in the coastal marine environment. By utilising an analogue model, radiocaesium transport from Windscale to the North Channel may be characterised by a 'residence half-time' of ~12 months compounded with a 'lag time' of ~6 months. This transport is, however, shown to be variable - in 1977 a greatly increased Atlantic influx to the Irish Sea through the St. George's Channel was evident, resulting in an accelerated radiocaesium transport rate northwards through the North Channel. By further use of this model, the waters of the Clyde Sea Area may be shown to have a 'residence half-time' of ~3 months with the lag between the North Channel site and the Clyde being ~1 month. Additionally, ~40% of the northwards water flux from the Irish Sea may be shown to pass through the Clyde Sea Area. Transport from the North Channel to the Minch is also shown to change considerably between 1976 (advection rate 5km/day) and 1977 (advection rate ~1.5 km/day) associated with a marked widening of the coastal water plume in the Hebridean Sea Area during this period.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Keywords: Chemical oceanography, Nuclear chemistry
Date of Award: 1979
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:1979-77216
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2020 09:15
Last Modified: 14 Jan 2020 09:15
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/77216

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