Artificial radionuclides in the western Northwest Pacific (I)90Sr and137Cs in the deep waters

⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs concentrations and their vertical distributions were determined in deep waters in the western Northwest Pacific, including the adjacent seas of Japan, from 1976 to 1979.The profiles of the radionuclides show distribution patterns with two parts with an exponential variation of radioisotope content with depth in both parts.Generally speaking, the inventories of⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs in the open waters of the northwestern Pacific correspond fairly well to the fallout inputs, but in some circumstances there seems to be considerable removal of radionuclides from the water column or they are diluted with water of lower radioactivity from other regions.The possibility of radioisotope remobilization from the bottom sediment or particulate matter is also discussed.