The use of radon as tracer in environmental sciences

• Published in: Acta geophysica Vol. 61; no. 4; pp. 848 - 858
• Main Authors: Quindos Poncela, Luis S., Sainz Fernandez, Carlos, Fuente Merino, Ismael, Gutierrez Villanueva, Jose L., Gonzalez Diez, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Versita 01-08-2013; Versita; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air masses; Discontinuity; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environment; Environmental science; Geophysics; Geophysics/Geodesy; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Radon; Research Article; seismicity; Structural Geology; tracer; ventilation; radon; tracer; ventilation; seismicity
• ISSN: 1895-6572; 1895-7455
• DOI: 10.2478/s11600-013-0119-z

Radon can be used as a naturally occurring tracer for environmental processes. By means of grab-sampling or continuous monitoring of radon concentration, it is possible to assess several types of dynamic phenomena in air and water. We present a review of the use of radon and its progeny at the University of Cantabria. Radon can be an atmospheric dynamics indicator related with air mass interchange near land-sea discontinuities as well as for the study of vertical variations of air parameters (average values of different types of stability: 131–580 Bq m
−3
). Concerning indoor gas, we present some results obtained at Altamira Cave (Spain): from 222 to 6549 Bq m
−3
(Hall) and from 999 to 6697 Bq m
−3
(Paintings Room). Finally, variations of radon concentration in soil (0.3 to 9.1 kBq m
−3
) and underground water (values up to 500 Bq l
−1
) provide relevant information about different geophysical phenomena.