Temporal variations of /sup 212/Pb in thunderstorms

Journal Article · Fri Feb 20 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC081i006p01148· OSTI ID:7276114

Gavini, M B; Holloway, R W; Sherrill, R D; Inn, K G.W.; Kuroda, P K

The concentrations of the radioactive nuclides /sup 210/Pb, /sup 212/Pb, and /sup 210/Po were measured in the samples sequentially taken in three thunderstorms which occurred at Fayetteville, Arkansas, on April 18, June 9, and July 25, 1974. The concentrations of /sup 212/Pb were found to vary from 30 x 10/sup -12/ Ci/l to 352 x 10/sup -12/ Ci/l, and the /sup 212/Pb//sup 210/Pb ratio, from about 11 to 50 during the rains sampled. In all three rains sampled, the /sup 212/Pb//sup 210/Pb ratio increased to a maximum during the intense period of the storm and decreased sharply as the storm dissipated. The observed activity ratios during the rainstorms are compared with those measured in light showers and air filter samples. A discussion is presented which explains the variations in the lead isotope ratio as resulting from turbulent mixing of air masses within thunderstorms. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville
• OSTI ID: 7276114
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ARKANSAS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BISMUTH 210
BISMUTH ISOTOPES
CHEMISTRY
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD 212
LEAD ISOTOPES
MEASURING METHODS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RADIOISOTOPES
RAIN WATER
SOUTHWEST REGION
TIME DEPENDENCE
TURBULENCE
USA
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES