The deposition, resuspension and weathering of Chernobyl derived material in the UK

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Abstract
Some measurements of the radionuclides originating from the Chernobyl reactor accident have enabled the evaluation of parameters that can be incorporated into predictive models. Evaluations of dry and wet deposition, resuspension and weathering rates have been summarised. Caesium has been used mostly, as a tracer of particulate material in the 0.1-1.0 mu m size range, and special attention has been drawn to dry deposition on to buildings. Particulate dry deposition velocities for roofs have been found to be similar to horizontal surfaces ( approximately 5*10-2 cm s-1) but deposition to vertical walls has been found to be more than an order of magnitude less. The weathering of deposited caesium on building materials has been found to be slow. There is evidence that suggests that resuspension might be important for a period of years after a deposition episode and the possible importance of large particles has been suggested for the transport of deposited material.