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Title: Study of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere to a height of 457 meters. Final report

Abstract

An experimental program has been conducted to provide a measurement of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere from ground level to a height of 457 meters above the ground. An extensive set of measurements were obtained using alpha-particle detectors of the Track Etch/sup TM/ type supplied by the Terradex Corporation. These detectors were exposed for periods of approximately three months on four television towers and were read by Terradex. Radon measurements were also made as a function of ground depth. A statistical F-test analysis of the readings from the exposed Track Etch/sup TM/ detectors on the towers leads to the conclusion that the radon concentration in air at each of the tower sites does not vary with height above ground for heights to 457 meters. In order to obtain additional measured data on the altitude variation of the radon concentration in the air, five NaI detectors were incrementally placed in positions ranging from ground level to 457-meters altitude on the Oklahoma City tower. The NaI measurements were evaluated through comparison with calculated predictions of the expected count rate as a function of altitude using ANISN, a discrete-ordinates-transport code. The source distributions in the air and ground and the NaImore » counter efficiency versus energy were determined analytically. Considering the large uncertainties in the Track Etch/sup TM/ detector data from the 4 television towers and the results of the analysis of the NaI detector measurements on the Oklahoma City tower, it is concluded that the radon concentration in air does not vary significantly with height above ground for heights up to 457 m.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Radiation Research Associates, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6316214
Report Number(s):
GJBX-280-81; RRA-T8002
ON: DE81030293; TRN: 81-016176
DOE Contract Number:  
AC13-76GJ01664
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; NEW MEXICO; NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY; NORTH DAKOTA; OKLAHOMA; RADON; RADIATION MONITORING; SURFACE AIR; TEXAS; ALPHA DETECTION; DISTRIBUTION; NAI DETECTORS; AIR; CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION; DETECTION; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; GASES; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MONITORING; NONMETALS; NORTH AMERICA; RADIATION DETECTION; RADIATION DETECTORS; RADIOACTIVITY; RARE GASES; ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION; SCINTILLATION COUNTERS; SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS; SOUTHWEST REGION; USA; 500300* - Environment, Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 050200 - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)

Citation Formats

Clifford, C E, Rubin, R M, and Wells, M B. Study of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere to a height of 457 meters. Final report. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Clifford, C E, Rubin, R M, & Wells, M B. Study of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere to a height of 457 meters. Final report. United States.
Clifford, C E, Rubin, R M, and Wells, M B. 1981. "Study of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere to a height of 457 meters. Final report". United States.
@article{osti_6316214,
title = {Study of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere to a height of 457 meters. Final report},
author = {Clifford, C E and Rubin, R M and Wells, M B},
abstractNote = {An experimental program has been conducted to provide a measurement of the distribution of radon in the atmosphere from ground level to a height of 457 meters above the ground. An extensive set of measurements were obtained using alpha-particle detectors of the Track Etch/sup TM/ type supplied by the Terradex Corporation. These detectors were exposed for periods of approximately three months on four television towers and were read by Terradex. Radon measurements were also made as a function of ground depth. A statistical F-test analysis of the readings from the exposed Track Etch/sup TM/ detectors on the towers leads to the conclusion that the radon concentration in air at each of the tower sites does not vary with height above ground for heights to 457 meters. In order to obtain additional measured data on the altitude variation of the radon concentration in the air, five NaI detectors were incrementally placed in positions ranging from ground level to 457-meters altitude on the Oklahoma City tower. The NaI measurements were evaluated through comparison with calculated predictions of the expected count rate as a function of altitude using ANISN, a discrete-ordinates-transport code. The source distributions in the air and ground and the NaI counter efficiency versus energy were determined analytically. Considering the large uncertainties in the Track Etch/sup TM/ detector data from the 4 television towers and the results of the analysis of the NaI detector measurements on the Oklahoma City tower, it is concluded that the radon concentration in air does not vary significantly with height above ground for heights up to 457 m.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6316214}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}

Technical Report:
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