Lal, RajeevTims, StephenFifield, L KeithWasson, RobertHowe, D2015-12-13March 20-2http://hdl.handle.net/1885/71373The technique of accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS) has been employed to determine modern soil loss rates through the analysis of 239Pu profiles in soil cores from the Daly basin in Northern Territory, Australia. In areas in which soil conservation banks were not present or were only added recently (<25a) and which had a history of grazing and cultivation the measured soil loss rates over the past ∼50 years were 7.5-19.5 t ha -1 a-1. The measured rates are up to 5 times higher compared to agricultural and uncultivated areas within soil conservation banks in other parts of the catchment. High intensity seasonal rainfall combined with reduction in land cover due to grazing and episodic bush fires are primary factors influencing erosion although other impacts on the landscape such as tillage generated runoff and land clearing seem to be responsible for accelerated sediment production.Keywords: Accelerator mass spectroscopy; AMS; Australia; Bush fires; High intensity; Land clearing; Land cover; Northern Australia; Northern territories; Primary factors; Seasonal rainfall; Sediment production; Soil cores; Soil erosion; Soil loss; Catchments; Culti AMS; Plutonium; Soil loss201310.1016/j.nimb.2012.07.0412016-02-24