Tracing fine-sediment using artificial radionuclides

The environmental characteristics of many artificial gamma-emitting radionuclides provide a number of distinct advantages over other forms of fine-sediment tracer that are readily exploitable when undertaking erosion investigations. This makes them particularly effective for accurately measuring the movement of small quantities of fine-sediment, especially in low-energy environments where soil movement is commensurately slow, or for measuring erosion rates over short (i.e. event-based) timescales. The major advantages and disadvantages associated with their use as tracers are outlined and briefly discussed. Three examples of tracing applications using caesium-134 (134Cs) and cobalt-60 (60Co) are summarised in order to highlight their versatility and demonstrate the diverse ways in which they can be used in field- and laboratory-based investigations.