Photon transport simulations based on the Monte Carlo method have played a crucial role in assessing and estimating the ambient dose equivalent rates H*(10), resulting from the deposition of Cs in soil following the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima. However, a comprehensive examination of the effect of vertical variations in soil properties on the simulation outcomes has not yet been performed. Disregarding the vertical distribution of soil properties not only leads to potential inaccuracies in the shielding responses of soil layers but also in the determination of the radioactive source inventory, particularly when using the concentration data in Bq/kg. These oversights diminish the reliability of the simulation results. This study addresses several soil property factors that could potentially influence the simulation results, including variations in chemical composition induced by water content, bulk density profile, and estimated inventory profile, all evaluated through an examined simulation model. The results show that inappropriate assignment of the soil density profile can cause considerable errors in the H*(10) simulation outcomes. Furthermore, the sensitivity of H*(10) to variations in soil vertical density is analyzed, with the results indicating that H*(10) can be highly sensitive to changes in the bulk density of the top 0-5 cm soil layers. These results should facilitate the establishment of appropriate simulation strategies and support the reassessment of past simulation results.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107524 | DOI Listing |
J Environ Manage
January 2025
School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, 450001, Henan Province, China. Electronic address:
Enhancing the understanding of the rainfall-runoff temporal dynamics in semi-arid and semi-humid regions is crucial for flood disaster mitigation. Loess Plateau is a unique environment within semi-arid and semi-humid regions, characterized by its deep loess soil, prevalent short-duration intense rainfall, and changes in underlying surface conditions. In this research, 25 catchments from the Loess Plateau were chosen to examine the temporal variations in event runoff responses across different time scales.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobiol Res
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China. Electronic address:
Extreme climatic events, such as drought, can significantly alter belowground microbial diversity and species interactions, leading to unknown consequences for ecosystem functioning. Here, we simulated a drought gradient by removing 30 %, 50 %, and 70 % of precipitation in a semi-arid grassland over five years. We assessed the effects of drought on bacterial and fungal diversity, as well as on their species interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlants (Basel)
January 2025
College of Ecological Engineering, Guizhou University of Engineering Science, Bijie 551700, China.
Exploring the changes in plant functional traits and their relationship with the environment in karst climax communities across different latitudes can enhance our understanding of how these communities respond to environmental gradients. In this study, we focus on climax karst climax plant communities in Guizhou Province, China. We selected three sample sites located at varying latitudes and analyzed the variations in functional traits of the plant communities at these latitudes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlants (Basel)
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Alpine meadows are vital ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, significantly contributing to water conservation and climate regulation. This study examines the energy flux patterns and their driving factors in the alpine meadows of the Qilian Mountains, focusing on how the meteorological variables of net radiation (), air temperature, vapor pressure deficit (), wind speed (), and soil water content () influence sensible heat flux () and latent heat flux (). Using the Bowen ratio energy balance method, we monitored energy changes during the growing and non-growing seasons from 2022 to 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolymers (Basel)
January 2025
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary.
This study attempted to isolate and identify pedospheric microbes originating in dumpsites and utilized them for the degradation of selected synthetic polymers for the first time in a cost-effective, ecologically favorable and sustainable manner. Specifically, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyurethane (PUR) were converted by the isolated fungi, i.e.
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