Review article

Enevironmental 14C Activity: The Atmosphere and the Biosphere

Ines Krajcar Bronić orcid.org/0000-0002-6534-4125 ; Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Bogomil Obelić ; Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nada Horvatinčić ; Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jadranka Barešić orcid.org/0000-0003-4634-5859 ; Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Andreja Sironić orcid.org/0000-0001-7256-206X ; Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

The natural equilibrium of 14C activity in atmospheric CO2 and in the biosphere has been disturbed globally by various anthropogenic activities. Intensive atmospheric thermonuclear bomb tests in the mid 20th century doubled the natural 14C activity in the atmosphere. Since the bomb test ban, this activity has constantly been decreasing and has almost reached its natural level. This article presents the results of 14C activity monitoring in atmospheric CO2, tree rings and biological samples at several locations in Croatia and Slovenia. Global
changes in 14C activity have been observed at “clean-air” sites. In urban areas, lower atmospheric 14C activity is owed to intense fossil fuel combustion, especially in the winter. Higher 14C activity is observed in near the nuclear power plant during and immediately after refuelling outage. If refuelling is performed in the spring, when plants start to vegetate, increased 14C activity is also refl ected on them.

Keywords

CO2; Croatia; nuclear power plant; plants; refuelling; Slovenia; thermonuclear bomb tests

Hrčak ID:

60299

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/60299

Publication date:

9.11.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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