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Title: The Effect of CO2 on the Measurement of 220Rn and 222Rn with Instruments Utilising Electrostatic Precipitation

Journal Article · · Acta Geophysica (Online)
 [1];  [2]
  1. Durridge Company Inc., Billerica, MA (United States); University of Wyoming
  2. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)
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In some volcanic systems, thoron and radon activity and CO2 flux, in soil and fumaroles, show a relationship between (220Rn/222Rn) and CO2 efflux. It is theorized that deep, magmatic sources of gas are characterized by high 222Rn activity and high CO2 efflux, whereas shallow sources are indicated by high 220Rn activity and relatively low CO2 efflux. In this paper we evaluate whether the observed inverse relationship is a true geochemical signal, or potentially an analytical artifact of high CO2 concentrations. We report results from a laboratory experiment using the RAD7 radon detector, known 222Rn (radon) and 220Rn (thorn), and a controllable percentage of CO2 in the carrier gas. Our results show that for every percentage of CO2, the 220Rn reading should be multiplied by 1.019, the 222Rn radon should be multiplied by 1.003 and the 220Rn/222Rn ratio should be multiplied by 1.016 to correct for the presence of the CO2.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), Clean Coal and Carbon (FE-20)
Grant/Contract Number:
FE0002112
OSTI ID:
1171959
Journal Information:
Acta Geophysica (Online), Journal Name: Acta Geophysica (Online) Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 61; ISSN 1895-7455
Publisher:
de GruyterCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (13)

Signification de la présence de radon 222 dans les fluides géothermiques journal June 1976
Precursory Subsurface 222Rn and 220Rn Degassing Signatures of the 2004 Seismic Crisis at Tenerife, Canary Islands journal December 2007
Comparison between different methodologies for detecting radon in soil along an active fault: The case of the Pernicana fault system, Mt. Etna (Italy) journal January 2009
Hydrothermal processes governing the geochemistry of the crater fumaroles at Mount Etna volcano (Italy) journal November 2010
On the fate of 220Rn in soil material in dependence of water content: Implications from field and laboratory experiments journal March 2012
Spatial distribution of soil radon as a tool to recognize active faulting on an active volcano: the example of Mt. Etna (Italy) journal September 2011
Developments in real-time radon monitoring at Stromboli volcano journal February 2012
Radon surveys and real-time monitoring at Stromboli volcano: Influence of soil temperature, atmospheric pressure and tidal forces on 222Rn degassing journal July 2009
Correcting for interference in soil radon flux measurements journal January 2008
Measurements of 220 Rn and 222 Rn and CO 2 emissions in soil and fumarole gases on Mt. Etna volcano (Italy): Implications for gas transport and shallow ground fracture: 220 Rn AND 222 Rn AND CO 2 FLUX journal October 2007
Geochemical variations of air-free crater fumaroles at Mt Etna: New inferences for forecasting shallow volcanic activity journal January 2008
Gas Geochemistry and 222Rn Migration Process journal July 1998
Soil radon flux and concentrations in hydrothermal area of the Tatun Volcano Group, Northern Taiwan journal January 2011

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58 GEOSCIENCES
radon
thoron
fumoroles
carbon dioxide
volcano