A Preliminary Investigation of Radionuclide Distribution, Transport and Behavior in the Savannah (Georgia) Estuary

University Of South Florida, Tampa FL

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT OCE-0133160 A PI from Georgia Institute of Technology will use MRPG funds to study the distribution, transport and behavior of 37Cs in the Savannah Estuary. The goal of this project is to ascertain whether sediments in estuaries are a permanent sink for naturally-occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides. About 20 sediment cores will be collected in this estuary along with some samples from nearby riverine and marine environments to obtain "endpoints". Samples will be analyzed for 37Cs, major cations, trace metals, mineralogy and grain size. The PI also will analyze her samples for 210Pb, 226Ra, 234Th and 7Be to identify the dominant physical transport processes affecting sediments in the Savannah Estuary.