Sedimentation rates in Kagoshima Bay, Southwestern Japan, using the ²¹⁰Pb method

¹ Mutsu Marine Laboratory, Japan Marine Science Foundation Aomori, Japan
² Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Kanazawa University, Japan
³ Lake Biwa Research Institute - Otsu, Shiga, Japan
⁴ Department of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Japan

^* E-mail: kofuji@jmsfmml.or.jp

Abstract

To understand the pattern of sedimentation rates as fundamental physical parameter of coastal environment, the ²¹⁰Pb dating method was applied to core samples collected from Kagoshima Bay, Southwestern Japan. The sedimentation rate varied at each location within the bay (0.08–0.30 g·cm⁻²·y⁻¹), and the rate at the bay-head area was less than that at the centre of the bay. The inventory of ex²¹⁰Pb has a lower value in the bay-head area. The low ex²¹⁰Pb inventory at Stn.5' is considered to be due to physical, and chemical conditions in the bay-head area.