Distribution characteristics of tritium in the soil in Beishan area of Gansu Province

Beishan region in Gansu was the preselected area for China’s high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository. In selecting and evaluating a new dump site, the tritium study is of great significance. The Xinchang-Xiangyangshan preselected area in the Beishan area was taken as an example. This paper selects typical unit and tries to use the distribution characteristics of tritium in the soil to study the atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge in this area. The results show: In this region, the spatial variability of the tritium content in surface soil is large; it is feasible to use bound tritium tracer method to study the theory of atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge; the atmospheric precipitation infiltration has close relationship with the soil particle composition, salt content, mineral composition, water content and organic matter content. These results can provide important basis for developing the atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge, groundwater numerical simulation, nuclide migration study and so on.