Time series study of a 17-year record of (7)Be and (210)Pb fluxes in northern Taiwan using ensemble empirical mode decomposition.

Using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and a significance test method, we have analyzed time series data on the fluxes of (7)Be and (210)Pb collected over a span of 17 y in Northern Taiwan. Among nine intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) extracted from the method five (IMF4-8) are non-trivial for (210)Pb and have adequate S/N with significant power in localized windows around the periodicities of 0.5 y, 1 y, 2 y, 5 y, and 11 y, respectively. For (7)Be, IMF5 and IMF8 with periods around 1 y and 11 y, respectively, have adequate S/N. The semi-annual and annual cycles represented by IMF4 and IMF5, respectively, are dominated by East Asian monsoon. The sum of IMF6 and IMF7 reveals an inter-annual cycle where both (7)Be and (210)Pb fluxes are well-correlated with the East Asian winter monsoon index (EAWMI). The close tracking of the (210)Pb and (7)Be in IMF8 cases may reflect an 11 y cycle; implying that it is caused by common climatologic factors, likely related to solar cycle, rather than their distinct production modes.

Distribution of fallout radionuclides (7Be, 137Cs, 210Pb and 239,240Pu) in soils of Taiwan.

Depth profiles and cumulative deposition of four fallout radionuclides (7Be, 137Cs, 210Pb and 239,240Pu) were determined in presumably undisturbed soils in Taiwan. Inventories of these radionuclides in different areas correlate significantly with each other (except 7Be) and with mean annual rainfall, providing a necessary condition for the development of soil erosion studies in Taiwan. However, the data show very large spatial variability between and within landscape units, reflecting the steep topographic and meteorological gradients in the island. Thus, the application of fallout radionuclides to study soil conservation in Taiwan is expected to be a demanding task; it will call for dense sampling even at undisturbed reference sites.