Mapping radon-prone areas - a geophysical approach

 Radon-prone areas in Israel were mapped on the basis of direct measurements of radon (²²²Rn) in the soil/rock gas of all exposed geological units, supported by the accumulated knowledge of local stratigraphy and sub-surface geology. Measurements were carried out by a modified alpha-track detection system, resulting in high radon levels mainly in rocks of the Senonian-Paleocene-aged Mount Scopus Group, comprised of chert-bearing marly chalks, rich in phosphorite which acts as the major uranium source. Issues of source depth, seasonal variations and comparison with indoor radon levels are addressed as well. This approach could be applied to other similar terrains, especially the Mediterranean Phosphate Belt.     

Radon modelling and the heat transfer surface area of the British hot dry rock geothermal reservoir

A simple thermal model is developed to evaluate the heat exchange surface area of a hot dry rock geothermal reservoir. This model, in conjunction with the Rn model of Andrews and coworkers, is applied to RH12/RH15 system of the British HDR reservoir. Results suggest that although the estimated Rn transfer surface area represents the actual swept surface area, it is between 25 and 45 times larger than the heat transfer surface area. The difference is explained as due to clustering of several fractures within a range of thermal interaction, over the duration of the circulation. It is also shown that the decline in the measured temperatures of circulation fluids since 1985 to the present is consistent with the heat exchange surface area going through a maximum in 1987.     

用气体地球化学方法探讨活断层的有关问题

探讨了以氡为主的断层气测量结果与断层活动性的关系;并讨论了土质、土壤、含水量、取样深度等对断层气氡测量的影响。     

Radon variation in groundwaters in the Campi Flegrei Caldera (southern Italy) during and after the 1982–1984 bradyseismic crisis

Groundwater Rn concentration has been monitored at several sites in the Campi Flegrei Caldera since the time of the last episode of bradyseismic activity. The results concerning the period 1983–88 indicate that the Rn concentration is spatially variable due to the different chemico-physical characteristics of the waters or structural features. Rn concentration is generally influenced by the long-term changes of meteorological factors. Rainfalls appear to affect the Rn content of the most superficial aquifers. Several short-term spike-like Rn anomalies have been detected both during and after the period of the bradyseismic crisis. They do not show correlation with temporal changes of the pH and/or temperature of waters. A systematic correlation between Rn anomalies and episodic strong rainfall events is also absent. Furthermore, a clear relationship between Rn spikes and both uplift velocity changes and seismic activity has not been found.The overall evidence makes it very difficult to understand the temporal changes of groundwater Rn concentration that have occurred during and after the 1982–84 bradyseismic crisis. Nevertheless, a clear causal relationship between Rn concentration and the dynamics of the bradyseism is observed in some monitored sites. Its appearance may have been favoured by the low Rn concentration in the groundwaters during periods of quiescent activity.     

Hard X-ray all-sky imaging with BATSE/CGRO

The large Area Detectors (LADs) of the BATSE experiment aboard the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory have been used recently as the first hard X-ray all-sky imager at energies between 20 keV and 300 keV. The Earth occultation process is formulated in terms of a curved Radon transform convoluted by a step transform in a selected field of view (FOV) ranging from 5°×5° to 40°×40°. The Maximum Entropy Method is then used to reconstruct an image in the hard X-ray sky. Multiple images of different regions of the sky can be produced simultaneously. A source location accuracy of 0.1° for strong sources and a sensitivity limit of 100 mCrab have been achieved in an one-day integration period.Invited Paper on Imaging in High Energy Astronomy, Sept., 1994, Capri, Italyalso Universities Space Research Association     

Radioelement (U,Th, Rn) concentrations in Norwegian bedrock groundwaters

Twenty-eight samples of groundwater from bedrock boreholes in three distinct Norwegian geological provinces have been taken and analyzed for content of Rn, U, and Th, together with a wide variety of minor and major species. Median values of 290 Bq/1, 7.6 g/1, and 0.02 g/1 were obtained for Rn, U, and Th respectively, while maximum values were 8500 Bq/1, 170 g/1, and 2.2 g/1. Commonly suggested drinking water limits range from 8 to 1000 Bq/1 for radon and 14 to 160 g/1 for uranium. Radioelement content was closely related to lithology, the lowest concentrations being derived from the largely Caledonian rocks of the Trøndelag area, and the highest from the Precambrian Iddefjord Granite of southeast Norway (11 boreholes) where median values of 2500 Bq/1, 15 g/1 and 0.38 g/1, respectively, were obtained. The Iddefjord Granite is not believed to be unique in Norway in yielding high dissolved radionuclide contents in groundwaters, and several other granitic aquifers warrant further investigation in this respect.     

应用断层气氡进行地震监测预报

概述了断层气氡观测点的地理位置,地质环境和观测条件,用最优周期谱持和多元逐步回归分析方法对观测资料进行了详细分析,分析结果表明观测曲线具有“冬高夏低”的年动态变化和固体潮变化特征。其中固体潮变化是断层气氡进行地震监测预报的力不基础。     

大洋Rossby波动纬向传播速度的分布特征

利用1992年10月22日-2001年7月17日扣除年循环的T／P和ERS-1／-2的卫星融合高度计资料，应用二维Radon变换方法，对太平洋和大西洋的洋盆东部、西部的大洋Rossby波的纬向传播速度进行了分析与对比，并将二者分别与经典线性理论值比较，得出洋盆西部的Rossby波普遍比洋盆东部传播要快；中纬度海域大洋Rossby波的传播速度观测值与理论值的比率小于前人结果；并且在热带及副热带海域，大洋Rossby波的传播速度的观测值要低于理论值的结论。     

Unusual features of the distribution of Radon-222 in the bottom waters of the continental slope of the Mid-Atlantic Bight: Hydrodynamic implications

²²²Rn was measured in the near-bottom waters of the continental slope of the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Separate measurements of the ²²²Rn supported by dissolved ²²⁶Ra allowed the excess ²²²Rn that is derived from the underlying sediments to be distinguished. Measurements of production of ²²²Rn by the sediments were used to calculate fluxes of ²²²Rn from sediments that would be expected as a result of molecular diffusion. On the upper slope and on the lower slope excess ²²²Rn standing crops were, respectively, greater than and consistent with fluxes of radon from sediments by molecular diffusion as are typical of most ocean environments. On the middle slope, however, observed excess ²²²Rn concentrations and standing crops were significantly lower than what would be expected from the calculated fluxes from the underlying sediments. This unusual feature of low radon concentrations on the middle slope is referred to as the low-radon zone (LRZ). This LRZ was always present over several years and seasons, but was variable in intensity (excess-radon concentration and standing crop) and in location on the slope. Low concentrations of suspended particulate matter and low current velocities observed by others in the same region are consistent with low mixing as a possible cause of the LRZ. Radon profile shapes and recent work by others on near bottom mixing due to interactions between topography and internal waves, however, suggest that high mixing due to internal waves is a more likely cause of the LRZ.     

澜沧—耿马地震前后水氡状态吸引子初探

本文采用“根据时间序列数据重建复杂系统动力学特征”的方法,对澜沧—耿马地震前后澜沧、普洱、思茅和芒市台的水氡旬均值进行了处理,得到震前澜沧.普洱和芒市台水氡状态吸引子维数d在1.0—3.0之间,这从理论上说明了澜沧—耿马地震孕育过程中此三台站水氡变化遵从某些确定性规律,并指出了这些确定性规律所依赖的基本变量数目范围,这对认识大震孕育过程中水氡变化的动力学行为具有一定意义。