Radon fluxes from soils to that atmosphere measured by sup 210 Pb- sup 226 Ra disequilibrium in soils

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i006p00841· OSTI ID:6109062

Graustein, W C; Turekian, K K ^[1]

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1. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (USA)

Measurements of the activities of the parent ({sup 226}Ra) and progeny ({sup 210}Pb) of {sup 222}Rn in 119 core samples of North American soils reveals that the mean fraction of the {sup 222}Rn produced in the upper 50 cm that escapes to the atmosphere equals or exceeds 25%. The flux derived from the upper 50 cm is 0.48 atoms cm{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}. Measurement of {sup 210}Pb-{sup 226}Ra disequilibrium at greater depths in 12 cores indicates a mean depth of {sup 222}Rn escape of {approximately}218 cm, slightly greater than commonly reported values of {approximately}175 cm. Using these mean depths to extrapolate the flux measurements from the upper 50 cm yields a total radon flux of from 1.9 to 2.3 atoms cm{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}.

• OSTI ID: 6109062
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:6; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540230* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
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ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
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NUCLEI
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