Vertical distribution of 137Cs in the lacustrine areas and preliminary results of 7Be activity in snow samples at terra nova bay (antarctica)

137Cs activity in samples from lacustrine areas around the Italian base in Antarctica is reported as an integration of a previous work. Preliminary data of cosmogenic 7Be activity determined in snowfalls, total atmospheric depositions, soil and air particulate collected during the 1990–91 and 1991–92 Italian expeditions in Antarctica is presented. The results obtained point out the efficiency of snow in the processes of air particulate scavenging and provide useful information for the development of research in Antarctica in the study of air/snow transfer processes by means of natural radionuclides. © 1994 Gordon and Breach Science Publishers S. A.