Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - DTU Orbit
Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - DTU Orbit
Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy - DTU Orbit
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FIGURE 3. Horizontal distribution <strong>of</strong> 129 I, 127 I, 129 I/ 127 I in surface and deep waters <strong>of</strong> April 2007.<br />
Details <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> depth variability in <strong>the</strong> 129 I/ 127 I values, salinity<br />
and oxygen are presented in <strong>the</strong> Supporting In<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
(Tables S1and S2 and Figures S1-S4).<br />
Discussion<br />
Water Masses and Sources <strong>of</strong> Iodine Isotopes in <strong>the</strong><br />
Skagerrak-Kattegat. The Skagerrak water masses (Figure 1)<br />
represent (1) outflow <strong>of</strong> low salinity surface water from <strong>the</strong><br />
Kattegat; (2) inflows <strong>of</strong> high salinity (34-35) surface water<br />
from <strong>the</strong> North Sea, and (3) inflow <strong>of</strong> high salinity deep<br />
Atlantic water (>35) (15, 16). The similar 129 I level in <strong>the</strong><br />
Skagerrak surface water reported here and that reported value<br />
in costal water in Jutland (2) suggests that a large portion <strong>of</strong><br />
129 I pool in <strong>the</strong> Skagerrak is contributed from <strong>the</strong> Jutland<br />
currents. 129 I concentration decreases to about 4 × 10 10<br />
atoms/L in intermediate layer water with salinity about 33.<br />
We suggest that this water mass represents dilution <strong>of</strong> surface<br />
North Sea water by low salinity and outflow Kattegat water,<br />
which is illustrated by <strong>the</strong> sharp 129 I concentration plume<br />
observed from 10.8° Eto12°E during April 2007. Extremely<br />
low 129 I concentration (9 × 10 9 atoms/L) and 129 I/ 127 I value<br />
(average 4 × 10 -8 ) was measured in <strong>the</strong> bottom water <strong>of</strong><br />
Skagerrak with salinity over 35, whereas 127 I concentration<br />
corresponds to <strong>the</strong> high salinity seawater. This feature is,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, attributed to existence <strong>of</strong> 129 I poor Atlantic water,<br />
906 9 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / VOL. 45, NO. 3, 2011<br />
which is also confirmed by a similar 129 I/ 127 I value ( × 10 -8 )<br />
reported in water collected in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn North Sea (2, 6).<br />
In <strong>the</strong> upper water layer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kattegat (above halocline<br />
at around 35 m) (Figures 2a and 3a), 129 I concentration<br />
decreases from north (location 15) to south (location 13),<br />
and increases with depths. This trend is also imprinted in<br />
<strong>the</strong> correlation between 129 I and salinity (R 2 ) 0.57 in August<br />
2006 and 0.92 in April 2007) and <strong>the</strong> range <strong>of</strong> salinity (from<br />
19 to 33) that is less than bottom water <strong>of</strong> Skagerrak (>35).<br />
Such pattern indicates that <strong>the</strong> 129 I pool in <strong>the</strong> Kattegat<br />
represents a mixture <strong>of</strong> three water masses, namely surface<br />
and intermediate water <strong>of</strong> Skagerrak and outflow low salinity<br />
Baltic Proper water via <strong>the</strong> Öresund.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> deep water (below 35 m) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kattegat (Figures<br />
2b and 3b), 129 I decreases with depth, and is negatively<br />
correlated with <strong>the</strong> salinity (R 2 )-0.54 in August 2006 and<br />
-0.19 in April 2007). This behavior suggests mixing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
intermediate and deep waters in <strong>the</strong> Skagerrak as a source<br />
<strong>of</strong> 129 I to bottom water <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kattegat. In addition, <strong>the</strong><br />
gradually decreasing 129 I level to <strong>the</strong> south <strong>of</strong> Kattegat can<br />
also be attributed to this gradually blending process with<br />
less 129 I outflow water from <strong>the</strong> Baltic Sea. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, such<br />
trend seems less obvious in <strong>the</strong> waters collected in August<br />
2006 than in April 2007. An explanation can be a more active<br />
mixing process in August and possible increased incorpora-