Topographic heterogeneity effect on the accumulation of Fukushima-derived radiocesium on forest floor driven by biologically mediated processes

Koarashi, Jun   ; Atarashi-Andoh, Mariko  ; Takeuchi, Erina; Nishimura, Shusaku

The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused serious radiocesium (Cs) contamination of forest ecosystems located in mountainous and hilly regions with steep terrain. To understand topographic effects on the redistribution and accumulation of Cs on forest floor, we investigated the distribution of Fukushima-derived Cs in forest-floor litter layers on a steep hillslope in a Japanese deciduous forest in August 2013. Both leaf-litter materials and litter-associated Cs were accumulated in large amounts at the bottom of the hillslope. At the bottom, a significant fraction (65%) of the Cs inventory was observed to be associated with newly shed and less degraded leaf-litter materials, with estimated mean ages of 0.5-1.5 years, added via litterfall after the accident. Newly emerged leaves at the site were contaminated with Fukushima-derived Cs in May 2011 (two months after the accident) and Cs concentration in them decreased with time. However, the concentrations were still two orders of magnitude higher than the pre-accident level in 2013 and 2014. These observations are the first to show that Cs redistribution on a forested hillslope is strongly controlled by biologically mediated processes and continues to supply Cs to the bottom via litterfall at a reduced rate.