Behaviour of radon in the geological environment: a review

Ball, T. K.; Cameron, D.G.; Colman, T. B.; Roberts, P.D.

doi:10.1144/gsl.qjeg.1991.024.02.01

Cited by 196 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The soil gas radon measurements used in the present study were made using a 'Lucas cell' type scintillation counter following extraction by pumping from a depth of 60-70 cm (see Ball et al, 1991 for further details). Uncertainties related to the measurement of radon in soil gas and the statistics derived from grouped data are discussed by Appleton et al (2000) and Emery et al (2005).…”

Section: Soil Gas and Indoor Radon Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil radium, soil gas radon and indoor radon empirical relationships to assist in post-closure impact assessment related to near-surface radioactive waste disposal

Appleton¹,

Cave²,

Miles³

et al. 2011

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Least squares (LS), Theil's (TS) and weighted total least squares (WTLS) regression analysis methods are used to develop empirical relationships between radium in the ground, radon in soil and radon in dwellings to assist in the post-closure assessment of indoor radon related to near surface radioactive waste disposal at the Low Level Waste Repository in England. The data sets used are (i) estimated 226 Ra in the <2mm fraction of topsoils (eRa226) derived from estimated uranium (eU) from airborne gamma spectrometry data, (ii) eRa226 derived from measurements of uranium in soil geochemical samples, (iii) soil gas radon and (iv) indoor radon data. For models comparing indoor radon and (i) eRa226 derived from airborne eU data and (ii) soil gas radon data, some of the geological groupings have significant slopes. For these groupings there is reasonable agreement in slope and intercept between the three regression analysis methods (LS, TS and WTLS). Relationships between radon in dwellings and radium in the ground or radon in soil differ depending on the characteristics of the underlying geological units, with more permeable units having steeper slopes and higher indoor radon concentrations for a given radium or soil gas radon concentration in the ground. The regression models comparing indoor radon with soil gas radon have intercepts close to 5 Bq m Ra ratios.

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Section: Soil Gas and Indoor Radon Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil radium, soil gas radon and indoor radon empirical relationships to assist in post-closure impact assessment related to near-surface radioactive waste disposal

Appleton¹,

Cave²,

Miles³

et al. 2011

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…Environmental influences, particularly atmospheric pressure and temperature, have been proposed for the origin of the periodic signals observed in radon time series (Shapiro et al, 1985;Ball et al, 1991;Pinault and Baubron, 1997;Finkelstein et al, 2006). However, other studies (Aumento, 2002;Groves-Kirby et al, 2006;Crocket et al, 2006;Weinlich et al, 2006) indicate that a consistent meteorological influence cannot be identified as giving rise to variability in radon time series, and suggest gravitational tides as an influencing factor on radon variability, since both earth tides and ocean tidal loading may drive periodic radon exhalation via crustal expansion/compression and geophysically driven groundwater level variations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon signals at the Roded site, Southern Israel

Steinitz

Piatibratova

2010

Solid Earth

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Abstract. Temporal variations of radon in the geological environment (upper crust) are frequent and recognized as unique in terms of the signals encountered and for the lack of substantial and generally applicable explanations. The phenomena observed at the Roded site, located in arid southern Israel, illustrate this situation. The monitoring of radon in the last 10 years or more has been carried out in massive meta-diorite of the Precambrian basement block of Roded. The measurement is conducted using an alpha detector at a resolution of 15-min, placed in a borehole at a depth of 9 m, within a PVC casing to that depth. Systematic temporal variation patterns, manifested as large relative signals are composed of sub-diurnal (SDR) radon, multi-day (MD) and annual (AR) signals. The overall variation is dominated by the intense SDR signals which occur in some days, and may vary from background levels (5 counts or less) to peak values (attaining > 1000 counts) and back to background at an interval of 6 to 12 h. Intervals of up to several tens of days without significant SDR signals interchange with times of intense daily occurrences of such signals. Their occurrence indicates very fast variations of radiation from radon at the point of measurement. The peak times, within the diurnal 24-h cycle of SDR signals occur preferentially at an interval of 14-16 h (UT+2). Spectral analysis indicates: (a) A diurnal periodicity composed of a primary 24-h and a secondary 12-h periodicity, which are attributed to the solar tide constituents S1 and S2. Tidal constituents indicative for gravity tide (O1, M2) are lacking; (b) An annual periodicity. A compound relation among the diurnal and annual periodicity is indicated by: (a) Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) analysis shows an overall annual structure with a modulation of the S1 and S2 periodicities; (b) Moving-time-window Fourier spectral analysis showing that the amplitudes of S1Correspondence to: G. Steinitz (steinitz@gsi.gov.il) and S2 vary in an annual pattern, with relatively high values in summer. The phase of S1, S2 and S3 shows a systematic multi-year variation. It is suggested that the significant signatures of the periodic phenomena and their modulations reflect a direct link with the solar radiation tide.

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“…Uranium occurs ubiquitously, albeit at a range of concentrations, in all rock 16 types. Radium is produced by the decay of 238 U, but due to chemical and physical 17 processes it may be separated from its parent and hence be enriched in some mineral 18 phases, for example in surface coatings (Ball et al, 1991). 19 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon in Chalk streams: Spatial and temporal variation of groundwater sources in the Pang and Lambourn catchments, UK

Mullinger

Binley

Pates

et al. 2007

Journal of Hydrology

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and hydrological events. In the Lambourn, the radon budget is controlled by diffuse 10 groundwater inputs, supporting the hypothesis that the alluvial aquifer plays a greater 11 role during periods of high accretion. The Pang is more complex than the Lambourn 12 having a combination of diffuse and point source inputs, with spring inputs dominating 13 both flow and radon signatures in the lower part of the catchment. Significant temporal 14 and spatial variations were determined for C I in both catchments reflecting their 15 differing geologies and flow regimes. One use of radon in hydrology is the 16 determination of groundwater discharges to rivers, but the observed variations in C I 17 mean this approach may not be appropriate to all situations and that changes in source 18 need further evaluation. Nonetheless, radon is shown to be a useful tracer of flow paths 19 and processes within these catchments. 20 21

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Behaviour of radon in the geological environment: a review

Cited by 196 publications

References 13 publications

Soil radium, soil gas radon and indoor radon empirical relationships to assist in post-closure impact assessment related to near-surface radioactive waste disposal

Soil radium, soil gas radon and indoor radon empirical relationships to assist in post-closure impact assessment related to near-surface radioactive waste disposal

Radon signals at the Roded site, Southern Israel

Radon in Chalk streams: Spatial and temporal variation of groundwater sources in the Pang and Lambourn catchments, UK

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