SOIL²²²Rn CONCENTRATION, CO₂AND CH₄FLUX MEASUREMENTS AROUND THE JWALAMUKHI AREA OF NORTH-WEST HIMALAYAS, INDIA

Abstract

Soil Rn concentration, CO and CH flux measurements were conducted around the Jwalamukhi area of North-West Himalayas, India. During this study, around 37 soil gas points and flux measurements were taken with the aim to assure the suitability of this method in the study of fault zones. For this purpose, RAD 7 (Durridge, USA) was used to monitor radon concentrations, whereas portable diffuse flux meter (West Systems, Italy) was used for the CO and CH flux measurements. The recorded radon concentration varies from 6.1 to 34.5 kBq m with an average value of 16.5 kBq m The anomalous value of radon concentrations was recorded between Jwalamukhi thrust and Barsar thrust. The recorded average of CO and CH flux were 11.8 and 2.7 g m day, respectively. The good correlation between anomalous CO flux and radon concentrations has been observed along the fault zone in the study area, suggesting that radon migration is dependent on CO.