Soil gas radon concentrations measurements in terms of great soil groups

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 2013-12, Vol.126, p.165-171
• Main Authors: İçhedef, Mutlu, Saç, Müslim Murat, Camgöz, Berkay, Bolca, Mustafa, Harmanşah, Çoşkun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Categories; Classification; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; earthquakes; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Faults; Great soil groups; Horizontal; Isotope geochemistry; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; meteorological parameters; Pollution, environment geology; prediction; Radiation Monitoring; Radioactivity; Radon; Radon - analysis; Radon levels; Soil (material); Soil - chemistry; soil air; soil classification; soil depth; Soil gas; Soils; Surficial geology; Tuzla fault
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.08.003

In this study, soil gas radon concentrations were investigated according to locations, horizontal soil layers and great soil groups around Tuzla Fault, Seferihisar-İzmir. Great soil groups are a category that described the horizontal soil layers under soil classification system and distributions of radon concentration in the great soil groups are firstly determined by the present study. According to the obtained results, it has been showed that the radon concentrations in the Koluvial soil group are higher than the other soil groups in the region. Also significant differences on location in same great soil group were determined. The radon concentrations in the Koluvial soil groups were measured with respect to soil layers structures (A, B, C1, and C2). It has been observed that the values increase with depth of soil (C2>C1>B>A). The main reason may be due to the meteorological factors that have limited effect on radon escape from deep layers. Although fault lines pass thought the study area radon concentrations were varied location to location, layer to layer and great group to great group. The study shows that a detailed location description should be performed before soil radon measurements for earthquake predictions. •Soil gas radon measurements on different great soil groups using LR 115 Type 2 solid state nuclear detectors.•An evaluation of radon level in terms of great soil groups, measurement location and soil horizons.•Modified track counting on LR 115 detectors.