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Insight Into Radio‐Isotope 129 I Deposition in Fresh Snow at a Remote Glacier Basin of Northeast Tibetan Plateau, China
Author(s) -
Dong Zhiwen,
Shao Yaping,
Qin Dahe,
Zhang Luyuan,
Hou Xiaolin,
Wei Ting,
Kang Shichang,
Qin Xiang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl078480
Subject(s) - glacier , snow , plateau (mathematics) , troposphere , structural basin , geology , deposition (geology) , elevation (ballistics) , atmospheric sciences , physical geography , atmosphere (unit) , environmental science , climatology , geomorphology , meteorology , geography , mathematical analysis , geometry , mathematics
Abstract We present data of 129 I deposition in fresh snow in the Laohugou glacier basin, northeast Tibetan Plateau, in summer 2016 and 2017, and trace its source and elevational distribution in the troposphere. Our results show that the 129 I/ 127 I atomic ratios in the fresh snow on the glacier surface are about 2 orders of magnitude larger than those in the Antarctic fresh snow and 4 orders the prenuclear level, indicating a predominantly anthropogenic source of the 129 I in the mountain glacier environment of northeast Tibetan Plateau. The 129 I level in the Laohugou glacier basin is 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than at representative European locations, and not significantly higher than that observed at other sites in Asia. The 129 I/ 127 I atomic ratio and 129 I level show clear increases with elevation from 4,300 to 5,100 m above sea level. The 129 I in the Laohugou glacier basin is probably deposited from the upper troposphere where there exists a local maximum of 129 I. A conceptual model for interpretation of the observed 129 I concentration and profile in Laohugou is provided. Thus, this work is of importance in providing a more complete view on the transport, dispersion, and removal of 129 I in the atmosphere.