engleski

Influence of the 14C and 3H global atmospheric contamination on the karst region of Croatia

Karst region of Croatia is widespread covering approximately one half of the whole country. The most part of the area is poorly (scarcely?) populated and environmentally clean area rich with groundwater, and represents favorable groundwater storage reservoir. Environmental isotope studies (radioactive isotopes 3H and 14C) in karst region of Croatia with application in hydrology and ecology will be presented. 3H activity in monthly precipitation for 1 year period at 5 different stations in karst area of the Adriatic coast are used as a data base for hydrological investigations, as well as for hydrometeorological studies of the area The study is a part of the International Atomic Energy Agency Co-ordinated Research Project: "Isotopic composition of precipitation in the Mediterranean Basin in relation to air circulation patterns and climate". The data are used also as the background of the 3H distribution in the atmosphere for controlling any contamination by nuclear sources, on local or global level. The global 3H and 14C contamination of the atmosphere (produced by nuclear bomb-tests in sixties) was recorded in the karst region of Croatia. Increase of 3H activity in a 45 m long ice deposit found in a cave in Mt Velebit, as well as increase of 14C activity in the recent lake sediments, recent tufa and surface water in the Plitvice Lakes area, reflects the global contamination. Comparison with 3H activity in precipitation and with 14C activity in atmospheric CO2, respectively, showed that global atmospheric contamination was reflected in the karst environment but with damped response and with some delay.

14C; 3H; atmospheric contamination; karst

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