Studies on Tritium Monitoring and Groundwater Dating of Crystalline Rocks in Korea

Abstract

Environmental tritium samples were taken from precipitation, surface water, groundwater and sea water in Korea from 1961-1996. The tritium content of the precipitation, surface water, groundwater, and sea water in 1996 were found to be 10TU, 14TU, 15TU and 4TU, respectively. Our results indicate that the tritium content tends to increase with latitude and altitude. Moreover, the tritium content of surface water and groundwater near the heavy water-type nuclear power plant were measured at higher than natural levels. In addition, the tritium content of discharged water from the fracture zone of the horizontal tunnel in the Chungyang area was analyzed. Using the Piston Flow Model (PFM) and the Exponential Model (EM), the tritium content data were analyzed in order to date groundwater The results of the groundwater dating were approximately 14 to 20 years.