Factors controlling temporal and spatial variations of atmospheric deposition of 7Be and 210Pb in northern Taiwan

[1] Fluxes of Be-7 and Pb-210 monitored at two contrasting sites in northern Taiwan were studied along with meteorological data to elucidate factors controlling their temporal and spatial variations. The 9 year time series of both nuclides at Nankang in the Taipei Basin show dependence on wet precipitation and follow an annual cycle regulated by typhoons, monsoons, and mei-yu. Superimposed on the annual cycle are interannual variation caused by El Nino - Southern Oscillation and intraseasonal oscillations due to the passage or invasion of fronts, cold surges, dust storms, and the Pacific high-pressure system. The observed Be-7/Pb-210 ratios are indicative of the source regions of the fallout nuclides, with higher ratios from high-altitude rain and lower ratios from dry fallout and low-altitude rain. The 2 year time series at Yangminshan shows that Be-7 and Pb-210 fluxes at the mountainous site are in phase with those at Nankang. However, nuclide fluxes at Yangminshan are 4 - 5 times those at Nankang. After combining results from this and other ancillary studies at Yangminshan, we suggest that ( 1) in applying fallout nuclides to study the Earth's surface processes, the assumption of constant flux should be made judicially according to the timescales involved, and that ( 2) the application of fallout nuclides to study soil erosion in hilly areas must consider not only control by wet and dry precipitation but also by direct contact and interaction of clouds with soils enhancing nuclide fluxes.