Articles | Volume 15, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5151-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5151-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
19 Nov 2021
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 19 Nov 2021
| 19 Nov 2021
Accumulation of legacy fallout radionuclides in cryoconite on Isfallsglaciären (Arctic Sweden) and their downstream spatial distribution
Caroline C. Clason
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
Will H. Blake
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
Nick Selmes
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
Alex Taylor
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
Pascal Boeckx
Isotope Bioscience Laboratory – ISOFYS, Ghent University, Ghent,
Belgium
Jessica Kitch
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
Stephanie C. Mills
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of
Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Giovanni Baccolo
Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University
of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Geoffrey E. Millward
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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Cited
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Radiation-Geochemical Characteristics of Cryoconite Sediments on the Witte Glacier (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) A. Miroshnikov et al. 10.1134/S0001437023320024
- Diversity of isotopic composition of anthropogenic radioactivity on glaciers in the Alps D. Sala et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179025
- Global variability and controls on the accumulation of fallout radionuclides in cryoconite C. Clason et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164902
- Legacy radionuclides in cryoconite and proglacial sediment on Orwell Glacier, Signy Island, Antarctica P. Owens et al. 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107206
- Impact of anthropogenic contamination on glacier surface biota F. Pittino et al. 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102900
- Glacier mice as a temporary sink for fallout radionuclides and heavy metals on the Norwegian glacier Austerdalsbreen K. Kołtonik et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175109
- Legacy lead and fallout radionuclides recorded in high Arctic proglacial sediment Y. Xue et al. 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126637
- Glacial–Periglacial Biogeochemical Dynamics in Alpine Ecosystems of the Northern Tian Shan under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Load I. Kushnov et al. 10.1007/s10021-025-01016-0
- Contribution of glaciers to water, energy and food security in mountain regions: current perspectives and future priorities C. Clason et al. 10.1017/aog.2023.14
- Unveiling the extreme environmental radioactivity of cryoconite from a Norwegian glacier E. Łokas et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152656
- The surface of small glaciers as radioactive hotspots: Concentration of radioisotopes during predicted intensive melting in the Alps J. Buda et al. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135083
- Assessment of radioactivity of cryoconites from glaciers of Elbrus mountain and glacial soils of Elbrus region, Russia R. Tembotov et al. 10.1007/s13762-024-06179-2
- Radioactivity and geochemical characteristics of cryoconite on the Tien Shan glacier A. Miroshnikov et al. 10.1038/s41598-025-19680-6
- Chemical availability of fallout radionuclides in cryoconite H. Davidson et al. 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107260
- Quantifying uranium radio-isotope ratios in riverine suspended particulate matter: Insights into natural and anthropogenic influences in the glacial-fed river system of the NE Tibetan Plateau X. Jiao et al. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132725
- Isotopic signature of plutonium accumulated in cryoconite on glaciers worldwide E. Łokas et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175356
- Unveiling threats to glacier biota: Bioaccumulation, mobility, and interactions of radioisotopes with key biological components J. Buda et al. 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140738
- Source, level and migration behavior of plutonium isotopes in cryoconite: A review M. Liu et al. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139400
- Radiological and elemental composition of cryoconite and glacier mice from Vatnajökull, Iceland E. Smith et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175828
- Anthropogenic contaminants in glacial environments I: Inputs and accumulation D. Beard et al. 10.1177/03091333221107376
- Radioecological and geochemical peculiarities of cryoconite on Novaya Zemlya glaciers A. Miroshnikov et al. 10.1038/s41598-021-02601-8
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Radiation-Geochemical Characteristics of Cryoconite Sediments on the Witte Glacier (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) A. Miroshnikov et al. 10.1134/S0001437023320024
- Diversity of isotopic composition of anthropogenic radioactivity on glaciers in the Alps D. Sala et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179025
- Global variability and controls on the accumulation of fallout radionuclides in cryoconite C. Clason et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164902
- Legacy radionuclides in cryoconite and proglacial sediment on Orwell Glacier, Signy Island, Antarctica P. Owens et al. 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107206
- Impact of anthropogenic contamination on glacier surface biota F. Pittino et al. 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102900
- Glacier mice as a temporary sink for fallout radionuclides and heavy metals on the Norwegian glacier Austerdalsbreen K. Kołtonik et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175109
- Legacy lead and fallout radionuclides recorded in high Arctic proglacial sediment Y. Xue et al. 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126637
- Glacial–Periglacial Biogeochemical Dynamics in Alpine Ecosystems of the Northern Tian Shan under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Load I. Kushnov et al. 10.1007/s10021-025-01016-0
- Contribution of glaciers to water, energy and food security in mountain regions: current perspectives and future priorities C. Clason et al. 10.1017/aog.2023.14
- Unveiling the extreme environmental radioactivity of cryoconite from a Norwegian glacier E. Łokas et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152656
- The surface of small glaciers as radioactive hotspots: Concentration of radioisotopes during predicted intensive melting in the Alps J. Buda et al. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135083
- Assessment of radioactivity of cryoconites from glaciers of Elbrus mountain and glacial soils of Elbrus region, Russia R. Tembotov et al. 10.1007/s13762-024-06179-2
- Radioactivity and geochemical characteristics of cryoconite on the Tien Shan glacier A. Miroshnikov et al. 10.1038/s41598-025-19680-6
- Chemical availability of fallout radionuclides in cryoconite H. Davidson et al. 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107260
- Quantifying uranium radio-isotope ratios in riverine suspended particulate matter: Insights into natural and anthropogenic influences in the glacial-fed river system of the NE Tibetan Plateau X. Jiao et al. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132725
- Isotopic signature of plutonium accumulated in cryoconite on glaciers worldwide E. Łokas et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175356
- Unveiling threats to glacier biota: Bioaccumulation, mobility, and interactions of radioisotopes with key biological components J. Buda et al. 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140738
- Source, level and migration behavior of plutonium isotopes in cryoconite: A review M. Liu et al. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139400
- Radiological and elemental composition of cryoconite and glacier mice from Vatnajökull, Iceland E. Smith et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175828
Latest update: 29 Oct 2025
Short summary
Our paper presents results of sample collection and subsequent geochemical analyses from the glaciated Isfallsglaciären catchment in Arctic Sweden. The data suggest that material found on the surface of glaciers,
cryoconite, is very efficient at accumulating products of nuclear fallout transported in the atmosphere following events such as the Chernobyl disaster. We investigate how this compares with samples in the downstream environment and consider potential environmental implications.
Our paper presents results of sample collection and subsequent geochemical analyses from the...
