Radiocesium in the western subarctic area of the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean in 2013 and 2014

Abstract

We measured radiocesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) in seawater from the western subarctic area of the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean in 2013 and 2014. Fukushima-derived ¹³⁴Cs in surface seawater was observed in the western subarctic area and Bering Sea but not in the Arctic Ocean. Vertical profile of ¹³⁴Cs in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean implies that Fukushima-derived ¹³⁴Cs intruded into the basin from the Bering Sea through subsurface (150m depth) in 2014.

Keywords: Arctic Ocean; Bering Sea; Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant; Radiocesium; Western subarctic area of the North Pacific.