Possibility of geodynamic monitoring by radon emanations

The crack opening displacement in the ground floor beam of a skeleton-type building on piles and lateral earth pressure between the piles were measured for a long time. In parallel we measured radon and thoron volumetric activity in the soil air samples in the building basement and in the box containing soil fragment. Two time intervals, when the crack opening expanded rapidly due to uneven subsidence of supporting columns, were established. Volumetric activity of radon entering from the soil basement and parent matter fragment was anomalous. Tidal, cyclonic, or technogenic deformations could be the cause of observed phenomena. According to the time series analysis, variability in atmospheric parameters such as pressure, temperature, and air humidity made geodynamic monitoring by radon emanations hard. Influence of described factors on measured parameters is still a matter of debate.