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Sources of 137Cs fluvial export from a forest catchment evaluated by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic characterization of organic matter

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An Erratum to this article was published on 13 September 2017

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Abstract

Fluvial export of particulate and dissolved 137Cs was investigated to reveal its sources and transfer mechanisms in a broadleaved forest catchment using a continuous collection system. The finest size fraction (<75 µm), consisting of decomposed litter and surface mineral soil, was the dominant fraction in the particulate 137Cs load, although the contribution of coarser size fractions increased during high water discharge in 2014. The dissolved 137Cs originated from the decomposition of 137Cs-contaminated litter. Temporal changes in 137Cs distribution in the litter–mineral soil system indicated that the dissolved 137Cs load will be moderated in several years, while particulate 137Cs load has the potential to continue for a long time.

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  • 13 September 2017

    An erratum to this article has been published.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere thanks to Masahiro Hirasawa, Makiko Ishihara, Kazumi Matsumura, and Misuzu Kaminaga for their assistance with extensive laboratory work. The permission to use the preserved forest from the forestry management authorities in Ibaraki Prefecture and the Forestry Agency of Japan is gratefully acknowledged. The use of the weir was kindly permitted by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute. We are also grateful to a landowner for their permission to use an open plot for a precipitation gauge.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan

    Kotomi Muto, Mariko Atarashi-Andoh, Jun Koarashi, Erina Takeuchi, Syusaku Nishimura, Katsunori Tsuduki & Takeshi Matsunaga

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  1. Kotomi Muto
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  2. Mariko Atarashi-Andoh
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  3. Jun Koarashi
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  4. Erina Takeuchi
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  5. Syusaku Nishimura
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  6. Katsunori Tsuduki
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  7. Takeshi Matsunaga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kotomi Muto.

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An erratum to this article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5435-3.

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Muto, K., Atarashi-Andoh, M., Koarashi, J. et al. Sources of 137Cs fluvial export from a forest catchment evaluated by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic characterization of organic matter. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314, 403–411 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5350-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5350-7

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