Ground-Water Radon Anomaly Before the Kobe Earthquake in Japan

Igarashi, George; Saeki, Seitaro; Takahata, Naoto; Sumikawa, K.; Tasaka, S.; Sasaki, Yoshimi; Takahashi, Makoto; Sano, Yuji

doi:10.1126/science.269.5220.60

Cited by 441 publications

(220 citation statements)

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“…In some countries, the radiation dose to man caused by inhaled radon daughters constitutes more then 50% of the total dose [3,7]. The groundwater radon concentration is expected to reflect not radon concentration is expected to reflect not only in chemical form but also in structural properties of rock in an aquifer [8]. The radon concentration in groundwater is basically proportional to uranium concentration in adjacent rocks and soil in an aquifer, hydrothermal solution and with variations in stress in rocks associated with seismicity and also is usually higher than surface water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation of radon concentrations in soil and groundwater and its correlation with radon exhalation rate from soil in Budhakedar, Garhwal Himalaya

Prasad

Gusain

et al. 2009

Indian J Phys

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: Radon was measured in soil-gas and groundwater in the Budhakedar area of Tehri Garhwal, India in summer and winter to obtain the seasonal variation and its correlation with radon exhalation rate. The environmental surface gamma dose rate was also measured in the same area. The radon exhalation rate in the soil sample collected from different geological unit of Budhakedar area was measured using plastic track detector (LR-115 type II) technique. The variation in the radon concentration in soil-gas was found to vary from 1098 to 31,776 Bq.m -3 with an average of 7456 Bq.m -3 in summer season and 3501 to 42883 Bq.m -3 with an average of 17148 Bq.m -3 in winter season. In groundwater, it was found to vary from 8 to 3047 Bq.l -1 with an average value 510 Bq.l -1 in summer and 26 to 2311 Bq.l -1 with an average value 433 Bq.L -1 in winter. Surface gamma dose rate in the study area varied from 32.4 to 83.6 mR.h -1 with an overall mean of 58.7 mR.h -1 in summer and 34.6 to 79.3 mR.h -1 with an average value 58.2 mR.h -1 in winter. Radon exhalation rate from collected soil samples was found to vary from 0.1 × 10 -5 to 5.7 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 with an average of 1.5 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 in summer season and 1.7 × 10 -5 to 9.6 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 with an average of 5.5 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 . A weak negative correlation was observed between radon exhalation rate from soil and radon concentration in the soil. Radon exhalation rate from the soil was also not found to be correlated with the gamma dose rate, while it shows a positive correlation with radon concentration in water in summer season. Inter-correlations among various parameters are discussed in detail.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation of radon concentrations in soil and groundwater and its correlation with radon exhalation rate from soil in Budhakedar, Garhwal Himalaya

Prasad

Gusain

et al. 2009

Indian J Phys

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“…Walia et al (2006) compiled radon time series interpreted as precursory signals for some major earthquakes having magnitude > 5, which occurred in N-W Himalayas. Igarashi et al (1995) interpreted precursory radon changes before the disastrous Kobe earthquake in Japan and this anomaly was particularly evident. Still more works should be dedicated to understand if certain delay between radon spikes and strong earthquakes is a time of preparation of those earthquakes, i.e., 40 up to 144 days before in a case history described by Einarsson et al (2008) in the South Iceland seismic zone, whereas Jaishi et al (2014) find a positive correlation between radon/thoron data and earthquakes soon after mainly, but sometimes are co-seismic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the last few decades, studies have shown useful data in the field of seismogeochemistry interpreted as geochemical precursory signals for impending earthquakes (Heinicke et al 1992;Igarashi et al 1995;Virk et al 2001;Steinitz et al 2003;Yang et al 2005Yang et al , 2006Zmazek et al 2005;Kumar et al 2009Kumar et al , 2015Walia et al 2009a;Fu et al 2015). Despite a full operative "earthquake prediction/early alarm" routine is still far to be accepted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geochemical precursors are recognized as short-term precursor and are monitored in many countries both by discrete and continuous tools (Inan et al 2008;Kuo et al 2010), often preceded by area papers to install "sensitive stations" in sites recognized sound, during strong earthquakes in the past too, mostly if the role of fluids in triggering earthquakes is important (i.e., Italy, see Quattrocchi 1999). Radon is proved to be as one of the most reliable geochemical precursor (Wakita et al 1980;Fleischer 1981;Igarashi and Wakita 1990;Heinicke et al 1992;Igarashi et al 1995;Virk et al 2001;Steinitz et al 2003;Yang et al 2005;Zmazek et al 2005;Kumar et al 2009;Walia et al 2009a;Fu et al 2017a, b). Virk and Singh (1994) reported precursory radon anomalies simultaneously in both soil-gas and groundwater 5 days before the Uttarkashi Earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.8 occurred on 20 October 1991, in Garhwal Himalayas, India.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Preseismic anomalies in soil-gas radon associated with 2016 M 6.6 Meinong earthquake, Southern Taiwan

Fu¹,

Walia²,

Yang³

et al. 2017

Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci.

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Taiwan is tectonically situated in a terrain resulting from the oblique collision between the Philippine Sea plate and the continental margin of the Asiatic plate, with a continuous stress causing the density of strong-moderate earthquakes and regional active faults. The continuous time series of soil radon for earthquake studies have been recorded and some significant variations associated with strong earthquakes have been observed. Earthquake prediction is not still operative but these correlations should be added to the literature about seismo-geochemical transients associated to strong earthquakes. Rain-pore pressure related variations, crustal weakness at the studied faults system is consistent with the simultaneous radon anomalies observed. During the observations, a significant increase of soil radon concentrations was observed at Chunglun-T1 (CL-T1), Hsinhua (HH), Pingtung (PT), and Chihshan (CS) stations approximately two weeks before the Meinong earthquake (M L = 6.6, 6 February 2016) in Southern Taiwan. The precursory changes in a multi-stations array may reflect the preparation stage of a large earthquake. Precursory signals are observed simultaneously and it can apply certain algorithms the approximate location and magnitude of the impending earthquake.

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“…Most were the result of increases in river water flow, reservoir water levels, and water temperature, which occurred after the earthquake (Sato et al, 1995;King et al, 1995). In addition, several anomalous precursory changes were observed in groundwater (Tsunogai and Wakita, 1995;Igarashi et al, 1995; Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, 1995). Many chemical and hydrological changes are reported to have occurred prior to large earthquakes in the past.…”

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confidence: 99%

Anomalous Changes in Groundwater Chemistry. Possible Precursors of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake, Japan.

Tsunogai

Wakita

1996

J,Phys,Earth

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A post-earthquake investigation revealed statistically significant changes in the chemical composition of groundwater pumped from wells located about 20 km east of the epicenter within the aftershock region, preceding the disastrous M7.2 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake in southwestern Japan on January 17, 1995. The chloride ion concentration had increased steadily after August 1994, compared to the constant level since July 1990, and reached an excess of about 10% just before the earthquake. Groundwater sampled after the earthquake showed much higher Cl-concentrations. Together with the increase in Cl-, sulfate and alkaline earth metal ions (Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) showed similar increases in their concentrations, while sodium ion and silica contents showed decreases. These changes may be the result of shallow groundwater inflow, enriched in chloride, sulfate and alkaline earth metal ions, to the artesian layer of the wells, due to permeability enhancement in the shallow stratum. The observed changes in groundwater chemistry before and after the earthquake are useful clues to understanding the mechanism of the present earthquake.

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Ground-Water Radon Anomaly Before the Kobe Earthquake in Japan

Cited by 441 publications

References 7 publications

Variation of radon concentrations in soil and groundwater and its correlation with radon exhalation rate from soil in Budhakedar, Garhwal Himalaya

Variation of radon concentrations in soil and groundwater and its correlation with radon exhalation rate from soil in Budhakedar, Garhwal Himalaya

Preseismic anomalies in soil-gas radon associated with 2016 M 6.6 Meinong earthquake, Southern Taiwan

Anomalous Changes in Groundwater Chemistry. Possible Precursors of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake, Japan.

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