Tracer techniques in aeolian research: Approaches, applications, and challenges

Use of anthropogenic radioisotopes to estimate rates of soil redistribution by wind I: Historic use of 137Cs

Anthropogenic aeolian environments are those where wind erosion – principally mineral dust production – is related to human influences This chapter begins by citing regions where anthropogenic factors have resulted in significant wind erosion It details the major human-related controls on aeolian activity, such as changes to soil surface erodibility, especially by tillage, and alteration of vegetation characteristics The environmental consequences of wind erosion are classifiable as on-site and off-site effects Field techniques used for studying anthropogenic wind erosion are also discussed, as well as the models used to estimate soil loss and methods for the control of erosion on agricultural land

11.20 Anthropogenic Environments

Rapid assessment methodology in NORM measurements from building materials of Uzbekistan.

Gas porosity evolution and ion-implanted helium behavior in reactor ferritic/martensitic and austenitic steels

Gamma-spectrometric determination of natural radionuclides and 137Cs concentrations in environmental samples. The improved scintillation technique

T he weathering of mountain rocks and downhill movement of the resulting sediments form the building blocks of soil formation. Through eons of weathering and soil redistribution, complex landscapes are formed and reformed again in response to dynamic forces of geology, climate, and vegetation. Humans can also influence the formation of soils and landscapes through economic activities such as farming and pasturing livestock that disturb the stabilizing influence of native vegetation. As the global population increases, more and more of the earth's surface is impacted, and erosion of soil resources and sedimentation of the waterways is expected to increase.

Assessing the rates of soil redistribution is a difficult endeavor. The spatial and temporal variabilities, at multiple scales, of the factors controlling erosion make simple measurements difficult, if not impossible (Chepil and Woodruff 1963; Stroosnijder 2005). Rainfall varies on timescales of minutes to decades, and wind speeds vary on timescales of seconds to months. Rainfall and other climatic factors also control the stabilizing influence of vegetation as long-term drought may result in bare unprotected landscapes. In the last few decades, fallout radionuclides, both natural and anthropogenic, have been used to assess rates of soil redistribution on time scales from a few weeks…

Radionuclides in soils along a mountain-basin transect in the Koratepa Mountains of Uzbekistan.

Based on the microtron MT-22C an experimental setup for the study of ultra-small angle scattering of up to 13 MeV γ-rays from macroscopically smooth surface has been constructed. Preliminary results for angular distributions and γ-spectra are presented.

A setup for studies of ultra-small angle scattering of hard γ-quanta

Our investigations have shown that γ-spectrometry can be used to determine with acceptable accuracy the natural radionuclide content of natural waters, starting with specific activity 1.5 Bq/kg of the radionuclides in the samples. The accuracy of the determination of the activity can be increased by using an inert sample, which is certified with respect to the natural content of radionuclides, and better detectors. The natural content of radionuclides in the experimental samples of natural waters of Uzbekistan does not exceed the maximum admissable concentration. 3 figures, 1 table, 4 references.

γ-Spectrometric determination of the content of natural radionuclides in natural waters

Experimental data about spectrum transformation of electron bremsstrahlung beam scattering on macroscopic smooth surface at slide angles α = 0.004° - 0.020° is presented.

T. M. Muminov

Papers

Gamma-spectrometric determination of natural radionuclides and 137Cs concentrations in environmental samples. The improved scintillation technique

Radionuclides in soils along a mountain-basin transect in the Koratepa Mountains of Uzbekistan.

A setup for studies of ultra-small angle scattering of hard γ-quanta

γ-Spectrometric determination of the content of natural radionuclides in natural waters

Hard γ-quanta scattering on a smooth surface at very small slide angles