Deposition of Saharan dust in Monaco rain 2001-2002: Radionuclides and elemental composition

Data on concentrations and activity ratios of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides as well as concentrations of major and trace elements in red-coloured particles (Saharan dusts) collected in Monaco rain in 2001 and 2002 (5 samples from 4 events) are presented. Different distributions of particle size as well as different activities of natural radionuclides and concentrations of trace metals have been observed for two sets of samples. The (235)U/(238)U activity ratio is around 0.04 showing virgin natural terrestrial origin of the particles. The anthropogenic radionuclides (137)Cs, (238)Pu, (239+240)Pu and (241)Am are of global fallout origin and their annual atmospheric input to the ocean in the particulate form is estimated to be 28-37% for (137)Cs, 34-45% for (239+240)Pu and 36-51% for (241)Am of the total annual depositional fluxes of these radionuclides to the northwest Mediterranean.