Geographical mapping and associated fractal analysis of the long-lived Chernobyl fallout radionuclides in Greece

Title: Geographical mapping and associated fractal analysis of the long-lived Chernobyl fallout radionuclides in Greece

Author: N.P Petropoulos, M.J Anagnostakis, E.P Hinis, S.E Simopoulos

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 53, Issue 1, 2001, Pages 59-66

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(00)00111-9

Keywords: Chernobyl fallout; Mapping; Fractal analysis; Deposition pattern

Abstract: Immediately after the Chernobyl accident, a soil sampling programme was undertaken in order to detect and quantitatively analyse the long-lived radionuclides in the Chernobyl fallout. Soil samples (1242 in number) of 1 cm thick surface soil were collected in Greece during the period from May–November 1986. The samples were counted and analysed using Ge detector set-ups. The fallout data have already been analysed, mapped and published. In an attempt to improve this analysis and also to extend it to other fallout radionuclides, an in-house unix-based data base/geographical information system (DBGIS) was developed. Multifractal analyses of the deposition patterns have also been performed. In the present work, an analysis of the results of the deposition of [, , , , , , , , ]and are presented together with relevant fractal analysis and three characteristic contour maps. The maximum detected values of the above-mentioned radionuclides were 149.5±0.1, 76.1±0.1, 32.9±0.2, 46±2, 4.56±0.02, 7.98±0.02, 79.1±0.4, 337±2, 20.1±0.2 and 3.02±0.02 kBq m⁻², respectively. Furthermore, a statistical technique to compare contour maps was introduced and applied to explain the differences which appeared in the maps of the above-mentioned radionuclides.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X00001119