Numerical simulation of the intra-annual evolution of beryllium-7 ( 7 Ве) in the surface layer of the Black Sea

Abstract

A numerical model simulating the distribution of ⁷Ве in the Black Sea was developed and applied to study the spatial and temporal variations in the content of ⁷Be in the surface waters. Variations in the distribution of ⁷Ве were analyzed for the period from January to December of 2012. The average seasonal content of ⁷Ве in the surface layer ranges from 2.2 to 6.2 Bq m⁻³. The maximum concentration is typical for the eastern part of the sea in winter to spring, and the minimum concentration is typical for the central and western parts of the sea in summer. The seasonally averaged activity of ⁷Ве on suspended matter ranges from 440 to 1560 Bq kg⁻¹. The highest values are observed in the sea in winter to spring, and the lowest values are typically observed in the central and western parts of the sea in summer. It was revealed that the adsorption of ⁷Ве on suspended matter is most significant for the evolution of the content of this radionuclide in shelf waters.