Seasonal 7Be and 137Cs activities in surface air before and after the Chernobyl event

Seasonal fluctuations of cosmogenic 7Be (T1/2 = 53.4 days) and anthropogenic 137Cs (T1/2 = 30 years) activities in surface air (aerosols) have been extracted from a long data record (1972–2000) at high latitude (56°N–68°N, Sweden). Normalization to weekly average values was used to control long-term trends so that cyclical trends could be investigated. Enhanced 7Be activity was observed in spring and summer seasons and likely relates to the seasonal thinning of the tropopause. Variations in the 137Cs activity record seem to reflect how the isotope was injected in the atmosphere (stratospheric from bomb tests and tropospheric from the Chernobyl accident) and subsequent transport mechanisms. Accordingly, until 1986, the surface air 137Cs activity was strongly related to nuclear weapons test fallout and exhibits temporal fluctuations resembling the 7Be. Conversely, since 1986 the Chernobyl-produced 137Cs dominates the long-term record that shows annual cycles that are strongly controlled by atmospheric boundary layer conditions. Additionally, short-term data within the post-Chernobyl period suggest subtle intrusion of air masses rich in 137Cs that may occur throughout the year, and differences resulting from spatial occurrence at these latitudes. This is an important observation that may have to do with year-to-year variation and calls for caution when interpreting short-term data records.