Modification of the atmospheric polonium 210 to lead 210 ratio by volcanic emissions

Journal Article · Tue Nov 20 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC084iC11p06980· OSTI ID:5769078

Lambert, G; Buisson, A; Sanak, J; Ardouin, B

Volcanic gases are very rich in long-lived radon daughters, especially in /sup 210/Po. Thus more than 50 x 10/sup 3/ Ci per year of /sup 210/Po are injected into the troposphere by a normal volcanic activity, and more than 1 x 10/sup 3/ Ci per year into the stratosphere by volcanic explosions. These fluxes should account for one half of the /sup 210/Po content in both of these reservoirs. On the contrary the volcanic sources of /sup 222/Rn and /sup 210/Pb are generally negligible with regard to the soil production. This new result could explain most of the discrepancies observed by comparing the activity ratios of the different radon daughters, including the existence of /sup 210/Po//sup 210/Pb figures superior to one (overequilibriums). Stratospheric aerosol residence times calculated on this basis are found to be shorter than the previous figures.

• Research Organization: Universite de Picardie, St. Quentin, France
• OSTI ID: 5769078
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:C11; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580202 -- Geophysics-- Volcanology-- (1980-1989)
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
COLLOIDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
FUMAROLIC FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
SOLS
TROPOSPHERE
VOLCANOES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES