Dissolved radiocaesium in seawater off the coast of Fukushima during 2013-2015

Fukuda, Miho*; Aono, Tatsuo*; Yamazaki, Shinnosuke*; Nishikawa, Jun*; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi  ; Ishimaru, Takashi*; Kanda, Jota*

In order to investigate processes affecting distribution of radiocaesium in seawater in the adjacent region of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), relationships between Cs activity in seawater and physical properties of seawater (salinity, temperature, and potential density) were observed in seven stations within 10 km radius from the FDNPP. As a whole, Cs concentrations in seawater were higher in the vicinity of the FDNPP, and were negatively correlated with potential density. From these results, it can be considered that river water discharge or export of seawater from the FDNPP's harbor has affected the higher activity levels of Cs in seawater. It was also observed that the Cs-elevated seawater can be advected to the 2050 m depths.