| Abstract: | Sediment geochronology of coastal sedimentary environments dominated by sand has been extremely limited because concentrations of natural and bomb-fallout radionuclides are often below the limit of measurement using standard techniques. ICP-MS analyses of 239+240Pu from two sites representative of traditionally challenging (i.e., low concentration) environments provide a "proof of concept" and demonstrate a new application for bomb-fallout radiotracers in the study of sandy shelf-seabed dynamics. A kasten core from the New Zealand shelf in the Southern Hemisphere (low fallout), and a vibracore from the sandy nearshore of North Carolina (low particle surface area) both reveal measurable 239+240Pu activities at depth. In the case of the New Zealand site, independently verified steady-state sedimentation results in a 239+240Pu profile that mimics the expected atmospheric fallout. The depth profile of 239+240Pu in the North Carolina core is more uniform, indicating significant sediment resuspension, which would be expected in this energetic nearshore environment. This study, for the first time, demonstrates the utility of 239+240Pu in the study of sandy environments, significantly extending the application of bomb-fallout isotopes to coarse-grained sediments, which compose the majority of nearshore regions. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70038294 |
| Citation Author: | Kuehl, Steven A.; Ketterer, Michael E.; Miselis, Jennifer L. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 88 |
| Citation Issue: | 15 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Continental Shelf Research |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 6 p. |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Extension of 239+240Pu sediment geochronology to coarse-grained marine sediments; 2012; Article; Journal; Continental Shelf Research; Kuehl, Steven A.; Ketterer, Michael E.; Miselis, Jennifer L. |
| Citation Start Page: | 83 |
| Citation Volume: | 36 |
| Citation Year: | 2012 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Extension of 239+240Pu sediment geochronology to coarse-grained marine sediments; 2012; Article; Journal; Continental Shelf Research; Kuehl, Steven A.; Ketterer, Michael E.; Miselis, Jennifer L. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (INDEX PAGE): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2012.01.016 |
| Date Other: | Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:54 -0500 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
