Published April 20, 1983 | Version v1
Journal article

Uranium and plutonium isotopes in the atmosphere

  • 1. Department of Chemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

Description

Uranium 234 and 235 were found to be highly enriched relative to uranium 238 in several rain samples collected at Fayetteville, Arkansas, during the months of April and May 1980. The anomalous uranium appears to have originated from the Soviet satellite Cosmos-954, which fell over Canada on January 24, 1978. The uranium fallout occurred just about the time Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The concentration of 238U in rain increased markedly after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, and it appeared as if a large quantity of natural uranium was injected into the atmosphere by the volcanic eruption. The pattern of variation of the concentrations of uranium in rain after the eruption of Mount St. Helens was found to be similar to that of plutonium isotopes

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
J. Geophys. Res.
Journal Volume
88
Journal Issue
C6
Series
J. Geophys. Res.
Journal Page Range
3718-3724
ISSN
0022-1406