UOE/2016/033/NT

Soil erosion, deposition and vertical mixing play important roles in determining the spatial and vertical distribution of soil nutrients and, as a consequence, in determining soil function. We wish to quantify the relative rate of soil formation and loss within a karst environment in south west China. The total soil loss will be derived using the fallout radionuclides 137Cs and 210Pb. The karst (limestone-based) environment presents a challenge for application of the fallout radionuclides because, where limestone is exposed at the surface during fallout, locally laterally heterogeneous distribution of radionuclides with runoff from the rock is likely. In situ measurements can provide a mech…