The role and behaviour of tritium in the atmosphere and precipitation: natural and anthropogenic impacts
Abstract
Tritium has long been known as a useful tracer for the study of air-mass transport, surface and groundwater, and global water circulation. In addition, the use of tritium measurements in various fields has increased significantly in recent decades in water research, hydrology, meteorology and oceanography. The study aims to present the natural and artificial sources and sinks and chemical-physical forms of tritium in the atmosphere. Furthermore, we summarize the effects on the environmental level of tritium in the precipitation, such as the different physical processes of the hydrological cycle, the amount of precipitation, dilution, solar activity, latitude and continental effects. Since 1963, the atmospheric test-ban treaty, bomb tritium concentrations in precipitation have significantly declined, reaching an almost steady-state level. Therefore, solar activity-induced patterns in tritium time series can be identified, which are also significantly influenced by atmospheric processes.
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