Migration of 137Cs and 134Cs in different forest soil layers

Caesium-134 and 137Cs measurements in about 250 samples from L-, Of-, Oh-, Ah- and B-horizons of a Bavarian forest from 1987 to 1994 are analysed with respect to migration by using a compartment model. The derived ecological half-lives are 2.8 years, 3.8 years, 4.4 years and 7.7 years, respectively. By using these results, caesium behaviour can be predicted for about 25 years. The resulting profile is similar to that found nowadays for weapons fallout caesium, migrating within about 25 years in the same forest. Therefore, the model is suitable for the estimation of future behaviour of radiocaesium in the forest investigated for a period of about 25 years after deposition.