Radiotracers exercise
To be completed independently (you may use your notes)
Part I:
Draw the appropriate plot for cesium vs. depth for Morris Island, SC. This marsh has a sedimentation rate of 8 mm per year.
Cesium-137 Plot for Morris Island Marsh, SC
Surface
10 cm
20 cm
Depth
30 cm
40 cm
50 cm
60 cm
0 2 4 6 8 10
Decays per minute (“amount” of 137Cs)
Part II:
Place your final answers (including units/years/etc.) from Part III in the blanks below.
1)_____________________________ 2)_____________________________
3)_____________________________ 4)_____________________________
Part III:
The problems. Write the answer to each problem in the appropriate blank above.
Cesium-137 Plot for Great Marsh, SC
Surface
20 cm
40 cm
Depth
60 cm
80 cm
100 cm
120 cm
0 2 4 6 8 10
Decays per minute (“amount” of 137Cs)
1) What is the average sedimentation rate for the Great Marsh, SC?
Lead-210 Plot for Rat Island Marsh, SC
25 50 75 100%
Surface
20 cm
40 cm
Depth
60 cm
80 cm
100 cm
120 cm
0 2 4 6 8 10
Decays per minute (“amount” of 210Pb)
2) What is the average sedimentation rate for the Rat Island Marsh, SC?
Cesium-137 Plot for Boston Marsh, SC
Surface
10 cm
20 cm
Depth
30 cm
40 cm
50 cm
60 cm
0 3 6 9 12 15
Decays per minute (“amount” of 137Cs)
3) What is the average sedimentation rate for the Boston Marsh, SC?
Lead-210 Plot for Folly Beach Marsh, SC
25 50 75 100%
Surface
10 cm
20 cm
Depth
30 cm
40 cm
50 cm
60 cm
0 2 4 6 8 10
Decays per minute (“amount” of 210Pb)
4) What is the average sedimentation rate for the Folly Beach Marsh, SC?