Some results of tritium researches of natural waters in Russia (1960–2010)

¹ Pacific Oceanological Institute of Far-Eastern Branch RAS, 690041 Vladivostok, RF
² SI RPA “TYPHOON”, Obninsk, RF

Abstract

Original data of tritium (¹H³HO, or HTO) studying (1959–2010) of both natural, and artificial (technogenic) origin in natural waters on the country territory and in the seas of the World Ocean are presented. Entry sources of cosmogenic and technogenic HTO in hydrosphere of the Earth from atmosphere and its carrying over to various links of hydrological cycle are considered. The basic laws of the space-temporal HTO distribution in surface water of the northern part of the Eurasian continent, in the seas washing Russia and in separate water areas of the World Ocean, and also in atmospheric precipitation and Antarctica’s firn snow are studied. Prevailing influence of a molecular exchange on the HTO content in the top layer of lakes, the seas and oceans and in atmospheric moisture over the ocean is shown. The theory of a multicomponent isotope balance method is developed for studying of dynamic characteristics of water objects. Priority results of tritium use in the industry (on oil deposits, collieries, mines etc.) and in researches under national and international programs (WESTPAK, SOUTHERN OCEAN, “Isotopes in deposits”, the Soviet Arctic and Antarctic expeditions) are given. Systems of national and Far East regional monitoring HTO pollution of natural waters are created. Complexes for HTO measuring with record levels of threshold sensitivity (in the late seventies sensitivity of complex POI equaled to 4 × 10⁻⁶ Bq/ml) have been developed.