The time scale of transport and reaction processes in the ocean can be evaluated using natural radionuclides of different half-lives.In the present study,we evaluated the residence times of particulate reactive radionuclides 7 Be,210 Pb xs and 234 Th in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary,which is a high turbidity estuary,in June,2006.The residence times of particulate 7 Be,234 Th xs and 210 Pb xs in the Changjiang estuary were calculated to be 0.7-20.4,0.18-4.1 and 0.6-89.8 d,respectively.The obtained residence times of those nuclides are comparable with those of other estuaries and bays.For 234 Th xs and 7 Be,the residence times decreased with increasing concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM);however,those of 210 Pb xs increased.Moreover,scavenging residence times of 234 Th and 7 Be increased from coast to offshore,while those of 210 Pb xs decreased.
