Studying of tritium content in snowpack of Degelen mountain range

•We studied the spatial distribution of tritium relative to the streambed of watercourses.•In the center of the watercourses the snow contamination in the surface layer is as high as 40 000 Bq/L.•The values of the background levels of tritium in areas not related to the streambed, which range from 40 to 50 Bq/L.•Studied the dynamics of concentration changes of tritium at different watercourses Delegen site.•The most important mechanism of tritium transfer in the streams is tritium emanation from ice or soil surface.

The paper presents the results of investigation of tritium content in the layers of snow located in the streambeds of the “Degelen” massif contaminated with tritium. The objects of investigation were selected watercourses Karabulak, Uzynbulak, Aktybai located beyond the “Degelen” site. We studied the spatial distribution of tritium relative to the streambed of watercourses and defined the borders of the snow cover contamination. In the centre of the creek watercourses the snow contamination in the surface layer is as high as 40 000 Bq/L. The values of the background levels of tritium in areas not related to the streambed, which range from 40 to 50 Bq/L. The results of snow cover measurements in different seasonal periods were compared. The main mechanisms causing tritium transfer in snow were examined and identified. The most important mechanism of tritium transfer in the streams is tritium emanation from ice or soil surface.