Ground variation of radon 222 for location of hidden structural features. Example of the south of France (Alpes Maritimes)

We report two examples from the south of the French Alps, showing that radon emanation monitored by alpha-sensitive film may be used to locate certain discrete structural features revealed in data collected by remote sensing from a satellite. The variations observed in our data, over a period of several months, are in accordance with atmospheric changes and might correlate with local seismic activity when the detectors are located directly above structural fractures and the magnitude of the seismic event is greater than 2.     

非均质条件下珠江口潮汐湿地地下水流动特征

开展非均质条件下潮汐湿地中地下水流动特征研究,成为深入揭示潮汐湿地水循环及物质循环过程的重要前提。以广州南沙区的河畔潮汐湿地为对象,基于放射性氡同位素示踪技术考察含水层非均质情况下地下水的流动特征。结果表明：1）研究区介质干容重、介质孔隙度和介质氡释放（E_{rn}）呈现空间异质性,介质氡释放是导致介质氡平衡能力（[R_n{]}_{gw}）呈现显著空间异质性（2 210.15~7 700.33 Bq/m³）的主要因素。2）非均质条件下地下水流动呈现显著的分区特征,根据氡的比活度可以划分为快速流动区和滞留区。其中,快速流动区地下水氡比活度较小,观测期内平均值为1 522.39 Bq/m³,地下水呈现由陆向海近似“U”型的流动模式。滞留区地下水氡比活度显著增大,观测期内平均值为3 858.40 Bq/m³,地下水受潮汐作用而滞留更久。滞留区地下水流动状态受潮高差影响,潮高差越大,潮汐对湿地地下水的整体驱动力越大,滞留区地下水渗出相对容易,反之滞留区地下水渗出较难。由此可见,潮汐湿地含水层介质的空间异质性是影响地下水流动特征的关键因素。     

氡(222Rn)在地下水-地表水相互作用中的应用研究进展

地下水-地表水相互作用是水资源管理和地表水生态系统保护中重要的一个环节,氡同位素(²²²Rn)由于其在地下水与地表水中含量差异显著、性质保守、检测难度低,广泛运用于地下水-地表水相互作用的研究当中。本文通过总结分析²²²Rn在不同地表水体(海水、河水、湖水等)中的应用,指出刻画地下水氡浓度的异质性是估算地下水排泄的重点和难点。在估算海底地下水排泄(SGD)时,氡的混合损失项估算不确定、海水氡浓度时空变异性、SGD的多组分特征等可能给估算结果带来较大不确定性;在估算河流地下水排泄时难以确定氡的大气逃逸量;研究人员对氡在示踪地表水补给地下水方面的研究程度相对不足。本文从科学研究和实际生产方面,对²²²Rn的研究应用提出以下潜在方向:(1)降低地下水氡空间变异性对估算地下水排泄量的影响;(2)针对不同水体、不同水文条件,准确刻画氡的大气逃逸量;(3)拓展²²²Rn示踪能够解决的科学问题;(4)将氡质量平衡模型计算与不确定分析相结合,实现软件化。     

MS-222麻醉许氏平鲉幼鱼的初步研究

研究和评估了使用不同浓度MS-222麻醉不同规格许氏平鲉(Sebastes schlegeli)幼鱼的效果.根据行为特征可将幼鱼的麻醉程度分为6个时期,复苏过程分为4个时期.幼鱼达到Ⅳ期麻醉之前呼吸频率略微增加,达到Ⅳ期麻醉时呼吸频率较明显下降.低浓度MS-222对许氏平鲉幼鱼的呼吸频率影响较小,在质量浓度20 ～ 8...     

Characterising the distribution of near-shore submarine groundwater discharge along a coastline using 222Rn and electrical conductivity

The spatial and temporal distribution of near-shore fresh submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was characterised from the coastal aquifers of the Willunga Basin, South Australia, an extensive aquifer system that supports an important viticultural region. Measurements of electrical conductivity (EC) and ²²²Rn (radon) activity were collected at 19 sites along the coastline during the Southern Hemisphere spring (2011) and summer (2013). At each site, samples were collected from the surf zone as well asporewater from beach sediment in the intertidal zone. Surf-zone radon activity ranged from <5 to 70mBq L^–1, and intertidal porewater radon ranged over two orders of magnitude (220–36 940 mBq L^–1) along the Willunga Basin coastline during both surveys. Overall, surf-zone and porewater EC was lower in the spring 2011 survey than in the summer 2013 survey. Porewater EC was similar to that of coastal water at most sites along the coastline, except at three sites where porewater EC was found to be lower than coastal water during both surveys, and three sites where evaporated seawater was observed in the summer survey. Based on the patterns in radon and EC along the coastline, two sites of localised fresh SGD were identified, in addition to a groundwater spring that is known to discharge to the coast. The results indicate that near-shore fresh SGD occurs as localised seeps rather than diffuse seepage along the entire coastline. The apparent absence of groundwater discharge at most locations is also consistent with current evidence suggesting that extensive groundwater pumping within the basin has resulted in seawater intrusion across much of the coastline. These observations also suggest that previous studies are likely to have over-estimated SGD rates from the Willunga Basin because they assumed that SGD occurred along the entire coastline.     

PROSPECTING FOR THE HIDDEN ACTIVE FAULT BY MEASURING THE 218p0 AND 210p0

A method of prospecting for the concealed active fault by simultaneous measuring both 218Po and 210Po is introduced.It is a radioactive prospecting.The concentration of radon near the fault can be determined from the activities of its daughters 218Po and 210Po.At the fault,there is a good passage for gases,and the radioative gas from crustal depths can be easy to get to the surface.As a result,the level of the radioactivity there is quite high,but low at both sides far from there.The     

Evaluating lacustrine groundwater discharge to a large glacial lake using regional scale radon-222 surveys and groundwater modelling

Lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) can be an important pathway for delivering pollutants to lakes but this pathway is often poorly characterized. Evaluating the potential impact of LGD on lake water quality requires understanding the magnitude and spatial variability of LGD, as well as understanding the age and flow paths of the discharging groundwater (e.g., recharge area, groundwater flow paths, and travel times). This study first compares LGD rates along two ~40 km shoreline lengths of a large glacial lake, Lake Simcoe, Canada, that were independently estimated via a radon-222 (²²²Rn) field survey and via regional scale groundwater-surface water modelling. Backward particle tracking analysis is then used to examine the age and flow paths of the LGD and thereby assess the potential for the LGD to deliver anthropogenic pollutants to the lake. The field and modelling results compare well with respect to the magnitude and spatial variability of LGD. However, the comparison highlights the need for well-defined hydrogeological characterization if regional scale models are to be applied for LGD estimation. The particle tracking analysis indicates large variation in the groundwater flow path lengths and travels times (>1000 years to <50 years) for LGD along the shoreline. This illustrates that the LGD along different shoreline areas has varying potential to deliver anthropogenic pollutants to the lake. The study findings demonstrate the benefits of comparing independent field measured and model-simulated LGD estimates, and moreover suggest that it may be possible, in some cases, to use existing regional scale groundwater-surface water models, purpose-built for other water resource and quality objectives, to conduct preliminary evaluation of LGD contributions to lakes. Preliminary model-based evaluation would enable field efforts aiming to quantify and manage LGD to be better targeted rather than relying solely on regional scale field techniques that are often highly resource intensive.     

Radon distribution in groundwater of Taiwan

Radon levels were surveyed in 517 monitoring wells constructed in five major groundwater areas of Taiwan. The radon concentration in groundwater samples varied in a wide range from below the detection limit of 18 pCi/L up to 1,100 pCi/L. A worldwide comparison of reported groundwater radon levels was conducted. Overall radon levels in Taiwan groundwater are relatively low compared to other countries because the geology of Taiwan is mainly comprised of sedimentary rocks. Among the 517 wells monitored, only five wells were found with radon concentrations higher than 500 pCi/L. These five wells are all located near the Chaochou Fault in the Pingtung Plain. This study suggests that well sites near the Chaochou Fault could be good locations to monitor radon anomalies for earthquake prediction and should be avoided for developing domestic water supply. In the recharge area near the Chaochou Fault, the radon concentration in groundwater from shallow wells was approximately 1/2 to 1/4 of that from deep wells in the same cluster.

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Resumen Se investigaron los niveles de radón en 517 pozos de monitoreo, construidos en las cinco mayores áreas de agua subterránea de Taiwan. La concentración de radón en las muestras de agua subterránea varía en un rango amplio, desde inferior al límite de detección que es 18 pCi/L hasta 1,100 pCi/L. Se realizó una comparación a escala mundial de los niveles de radón reportados en agua subterránea. En general los niveles de radón presente en el agua subterránea de Taiwan, son relativamente bajos comparados con otros países, puesto que la geología de Taiwan está compuesta de rocas sedimentarias. Entre los 517 pozos monitoreados, solamente en cinco se encontraron concentraciones de radón mayores a 500 pCi/L. Estos cinco pozos están todos localizados cerca de la falla ChaoChou en la Planicie de PingTung. El presente estudio sugiere que los pozos cercanos a la falla Chaochou, podrían ser buenos sitios para monitorear anomalías de radón para la predicción de terremotos y deberían evitarse para los desarrollos de abastecimiento de agua potable. En la zona de recarga cerca de la falla Chaochou, la concentración de radón en agua subterránea obtenida en pozos someros, fue aproximadamente de &frac; a &frac; de aquella en pozos profundos ubicados en el mismo sector.

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Résumé On a mesuré les taux de Rn dans 517 forages ouverts dans cinq aquifères majeures de Taiwan. Les concentrations en Rn couvrent un domaine très large, à partir de valeurs très basses, au dessous de la limite de détection de 18pCi/l jusquaux valeurs assez grandes de 1100pCi/l. On a mené une analyse comparative avec des valeurs mentionnées en littérature. Par report aux valeurs mesurées en autres pays, les concentrations en Rn en Taiwan sont asses basses, compte que la structure géologique de Taiwan est constituée surtout par des roches sedimentaires. On a trouvé des concentrations au desuss de 500pCi/l seulement en cinq de 517 forages investigués. Tous ces cinq forages se trouvent au voisinage de la faille de Chaochou dans la plaine de Pingtung. Cet étude suggere que les forages situés près de la faille de Chaochou peuvent bien monitoriser les anomalie de Rn pour la prédiction des séismes mais doivent être évités lorsqil sagit de lalimentation en eau potable. Dans la zone de recharge près de la faille de Chaochou les concentrations en Rn mesurées dans les puits peu profondes representent 1/2-1/4 de ceux mesurées dans les forages de profondeur.

     

Chemical Assessment of Oceanic and Terrestrial Sulfur in the Marine Boundary Layer over the Northern North Pacific during Summer

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) in surface seawater and the air, methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO₄ ²–) in aerosol, and radon-222 (Rn-222) were measured in the northern North Pacific, including the Bering Sea, during summer (13 July – 6 September 1997). The mean atmospheric DMS concentrations in the eastern region (21.0 ± 5.8 nmole/m³ (mean ± S.D.), n=30) and Bering Sea (19.9 ± 9.8 nmole/m³, n=10) were higher than that in the western region (11.1 ± 6.4 nmole/m³, n=31) (p<0.05), although these regions did not significantly differ in the mean DMS concentration in surface seawater. Mean sea-to-air DMS flux in the eastern region (21.0 ± 10.4 mole/m²/day, n=19) was larger than those in the western region (11.3 ± 16.9 mole /m²/day, n=22) and Bering Sea (11.2 ± 7.8 mole/m²/day, n=7) (p<0.05). This suggests that the longitudinal difference in atmospheric DMS was produced by that in DMS flux owing to wind speed, while the possible causes of the higher DMS concentrations in the Bering Sea include (1) later DMS oxidation rates, (2) lower heights of the marine boundary layer, and (3) more inactive convection. The mean MSA concentrations in the eastern region (1.18 ± 0.84 nmole/m³, n=35) and Bering Sea (1.17 ± 0.87 nmole/m³, n=13) were higher than that in the western region (0.49 ± 0.25 nmole/m³, n=28) (p < 0.05). Thus the distribution of MSA was similar to that of DMS, while the nss-SO₄ ²– concentrations were higher near the continent. This suggests that nss-SO₄ ²– concentrations were regionally influenced by anthropogenic sulfur input, because the distribution of nss-SO₄ ²– was similar to that of Rn-222 used as a tracer of continental air masses.     

Large seasonal changes in the recharge of seawater in a subterranean estuary revealed by a radon tracer

Activities of radon (²²²Rn) in groundwater were continuously monitored in a saline aquifer from September 2010 to July 2011. The activities of ²²²Rn ranged from 200 to 4300 Bq m^?3, with a large seasonal variation. Because the activity of ²²²Rn in seawater is low, ²²²Rn in saline groundwater must be produced in the aquifer from radium (²²⁶Ra) in rocks and sediments. The ²²²Rn activities were higher in the warm‐dry seasons (September–November 2010 and April–May 2011) when the saline aquifer was stable. In contrast, the lowest ²²²Rn activities were observed in the cold‐dry season (December 2010 and January–March 2011), because of the effective exchange between groundwater and seawater. In addition, sudden decreases of ²²²Rn activities coincided with episodic drops in groundwater temperatures. These results reveal that lower seawater temperature in winter may result in density‐driven seawater intrusion. During the wet season (June–July 2011), ²²²Rn activities were more clearly affected by semi‐monthly and diurnal tidal pumping, showing higher ²²²Rn activities during low and spring tides. Such a tidal effect was not clearly observed during the warm‐dry and cold‐dry seasons. This result implies that the residence time of SGD in coastal zones is significantly affected by seasonal changes in driving forces such as tidal pumping and seawater intrusion. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.