The results of long-term simultaneous measurements of radon exhalation rate, radon concentrations in soil gas and groundwater in the fault zone

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes 2021-01, Vol.167, p.109460-109460, Article 109460
• Main Authors: Miklyaev, P.S., Petrova, T.B., Shchitov, D.V., Sidyakin, P.A., Murzabekov, M.А., Marennyy, A.M., Nefedov, N.A., Sapozhnikov, Y.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fault zone; Radon; Radon exhalation rate; Radon transport; Soil radon seasonal variations
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109460

The regular monthly radon measurements were carried out in the fault zone on the Western slope of the Beshtau magmatic massif (North Caucasus). The radon exhalation rate from the soil surface, as well as radon concentrations in soil gas at a depth of 0.5 m and in groundwater discharged at a spring located nearby have simultaneously been measured. High seasonal fluctuations in radon exhalation and radon concentration in soil gas, characterized by highs in summer and lows in winter, were registered. In summer, the radon exhalation reached 23.8 Bq m−2s−1, and the radon concentration in the soil gas reached 166 kBq m−3. In winter, both the radon exhalation and the radon concentration in the soil dropped to 0.025 Bq m−2s−1 and