Geochronology of sediment cores from the Vefsnfjord, Norway

The sedimentary environment is a repository and carrier for a variety of pollutants, and sediment transport from land to coastal areas is an important environmental process. In the present study, we use Pb-210/Ra-226 and Cs-137 in sediment cores to assess sediment supply rates at four sites within the Vefsnfjord in Nordland county, Norway. This area was highly affected by fallout from the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and inventories of Cs-137 in the fjord are much higher than in many other Norwegian fjords. Sedimentation rates between 0.042 and 0.25 g cm(-2) y(-1) (0.060 and 0.38 cm y(-1)) were determined using a combination of the Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) and Constant Flux:Constant Sedimentation rate (CF:CS) models. Well-defined Cs-137 concentration peaks were used as a supplementary tool to the Pb-210 dating methods.

Automated summary

The sedimentary environment in Vefsnfjord, Norway was significantly impacted by fallout from the Chernobyl accident, leading to higher Cs-137 inventories compared to other Norwegian fjords. Sediment supply rates were assessed at four sites using Pb-210/Ra-226 and Cs-137, with sedimentation rates ranging from 0.042 to 0.25 g cm(-2) y(-1). Well-defined Cs-137 concentration peaks served as a supplementary tool for the Pb-210 dating methods.