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Radon in groundwater of the Long Valley Caldera, California

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6355890
; ;
In the Long Valley caldera, an area of recently (approx.550 y) active volcanism and current seismic activity, /sup 222/Rn concentrations in hot, warm, and cold spring waters have been measured since 1982. Rn contents of the waters correlate inversely with temperature and specific conductance, with high concentrations (1500 to 2500 pCi/l) occurring in dilute cold springs on the margins of the caldera, and low concentrations (12 to 25 pCi/l) in hot to boiling springs. Rn correlates only slightly with the uranium contents of the wide range of rocks which host the hydrological system feeding the springs. These environmental effects on the radon record may mask responses to small or distant seismic, volcanic, or crustal deformation events. To date, anomalous changes in water-borne Rn have been observed in connection with at least one earthquake, which occurred close to the monitoring site. This continuing study points out that an understanding of the geological setting, its associated hydrological system, and environmental influences is necessary to properly evaluate concentrations and changes in groundwater radioactivity.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6355890
Report Number(s):
LBL-23301; CONF-8704123-1; ON: DE87010254
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520300* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580200 -- Geophysics-- (-1989)
AIR POLLUTION
CALIFORNIA
EARTHQUAKES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
GASES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
SEISMIC EVENTS
USA
WATER