Challenges for enhancing Fukushima environmental resilience, 7; Behavior and abundance of radiocesium in the coastal area off Fukushima

Otosaka, Shigeyoshi  ; Kobayashi, Takuya ; Machida, Masahiko  

It is estimated that about 70% of radiocesium released to the environment by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident was carried to the ocean. In addition to monitoring surveys by the government, oceanographic research by many institutions has revealed the distribution and behavior of the accident-derived radiocesium in the ocean. Numerical simulations are efficiently used in such oceanographic investigations, and further improvements are being made based on findings newly obtained after the accident. In this paper, we review the abundance and behavior of radiocesium in the coastal area of Fukushima, deepen the scientific understanding of the current situation of environmental restoration, and explain the issues to be addressed in the future.