Radiotracer Investigation of the Effect of Extraction of the Seabed Aggregates on Litoral Sediment Dynamics (France) [Case Study: Radiotracer Applications for Investigation of Bedload Transport of Sediments]

Due to the enormous need for construction materials (sands and gravels) and because most terrestrial sand and gravel pits have become exhausted, the exploitation of sea bottom has been investigated. The coast of the Moors in France was investigated using radiotracer sand. Injections of 250 grams crushed glass, simulating the granulometric distribution of natural sands, whose each grain contained a low radioactivity (about 3.700 Bq) of ¹⁹²Ir were carried out at various depths between -5 m and -15 m. Radioactivity detections were performed periodically using detectors dragged on sea bottom, for six months. At the same time, throughout all study, the hydrometeorological parameters were measured