Radon flux at the Earth-air interface

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ065i010p03367· OSTI ID:4138183

Wilkening, Marvin H.; Hand, John E.

A radon condenser utilizing a trap cooled by liquid oxygen was used to measure the radon content of the atmosphere and of the soil gases escaping through the surface of the earth. The average atmospheric-radon concentration at ground level in the Socorro area was found to be 0.24 x l0-/sup 12/ curie/liter, and a measurement of the radon fiux at the earth-atr interface gave a result of 90 x lO-/sup 18/ curie/cm/sup 2//sec. The radon content of the air showed a diurnal fiuctuation, whereas the radon flux at the earth-air interface appeared to be relatively constant over a diurnal period. Diffusion theory is used to derive an expression for the radon flux in terms of the concentration of radon in the soil at depth. The flux value measured is consistent with a concentration of radon produced by l l x 10-/sup 12/ g of radium per gram of soil.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Tech., Socorro
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-001602
• OSTI ID: 4138183
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 65; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
ATMOSPHERE
DIFFUSION
EARTH
EUCLIDEAN SPACE
GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND METEOROLOGY
LIQUEFYING
QUANTITY RATIO
RADON
SOILS
SURFACES
TRAPS