Temporal changes of 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb activity concentrations in surface air at Monaco and their correlation with meteorological parameters

Results of analysis of 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb on aerosol filters carried out from 1998 to 2010 in Monaco show that a weak correlation between activity concentrations of these radionuclides in the atmosphere and meteorological parameters has been found for 7Be and temperature (r = 0.50), 210Pb and temperature and humidity (r = 0.43 and 0.41, respectively), and 137Cs and precipitation (r = 0.51). The minimum and maximum 7Be activity concentrations were observed during 2000 and 2009, corresponding with the maximum and minimum solar activity, respectively. The maximum 137Cs activity concentration found in May–June 1998 was due to the accident at Algeciras in Spain. The deposition velocities of 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb depended on the precipitation rate, and attained maximum values during dry seasons. The investigated radionuclides may be used as atmospheric tracers, especially in long-term periods.

► The 7Be, 137Cs and 210Pb levels in the atmosphere did not correlate significantly with meteorological parameters.
► The 7Be levels in the atmosphere anti-correlated with sunspot numbers during the 11-year solar cycle.
► The investigated radionuclides may be used as independent atmospheric tracers of short-term processes.