You are here:
SEDIMENT REWORKING AND TRANSPORT IN EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR: IN SITU RARE EARTH ELEMENT TRACER STUDIES
Citation:
Krezoski, J. SEDIMENT REWORKING AND TRANSPORT IN EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR: IN SITU RARE EARTH ELEMENT TRACER STUDIES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-89/034 (NTIS PB90100652), 1989.
Description:
A rare earth element (REE) tracer pellet was deployed at the floor of the Ile Parisienne basin of eastern Lake Superior to measure representative sediment reworking and transport processes in the benthic boundary layer of the prnfundal Great Lakes. Samarium oxide, a high neutron-capture cross-section REE, was added at a concentration 3 x JO' greater than found naturally in the lake sediments. After 23 days the study site was reoccupied and eleven submersible-taken punch cores were collected from within and around the labeled area. Vertical core sections were then examined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. High resolution gamma spectroscopy of the labeled sediments revealed little bioturbation had occurred during the 3.3. week period but that lateral advective transport processes moved tracer particles to the west and north at an average rate of 0.17 cm. sec-1, although only 1% of the samarium deployed could be accounted for. These results demonstrate the utility of in situ tracer studies at profundal depths and suggest that longer-term studies will permit accurate measurement of post-depositional redistribution processes at the sediment-water interface of fresh water and marine environments.
URLs/Downloads:
SEDIMENT REWORKING AND TRANSPORT IN EASTERN LAKE SUPERIOR: IN SITU RARE EARTH ELEMENT TRACER STUDIES