Beryllium-7 and 210Pb atmospheric deposition measured in moss and dependence on cumulative precipitation

This paper focuses on analysis of the time series of 7Be and 210Pb activity measured in moss, and the amount, as well as duration of precipitation, to gain a better understanding of the possible relationships between airborne radionuclide deposition and precipitation. Here we consider whether the amount of these airborne radionuclides in moss samples is a cumulative measure of radionuclide deposition and decay, and a new approach for analyses of the relationships between precipitation and moss activity concentrations is suggested. Through these analyses it was shown that comparison of cumulative activity measured at one location using moss, normalized by values of cumulative amount or duration of precipitation, showed different regimes of airborne radionuclide deposition. Correlation between cumulative activity of 7Be and 210Pb measured in moss samples normalized by the cumulative precipitation. [Display omitted] •Use of mosses in measurement of airborne radionuclides deposition was investigated•Prior work indicated 7Be and 210Pb activities were not correlated with precipitation•This is unusual since radionuclides moss tissues depends on depositional fluxes.•A new method for study of 7Be and 210Pb depositional dynamics was developed•Different seasonal regimes of 7Be deposition are more noticeable in new technique