Multi-parametric approach to the analysis of soil radon gas for its validation as geoindicator in two sites of the Phlegrean Fields caldera (Italy)

Abstract

Radon is considered one of the short- and immediate-term earthquake precursors by International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior. For this reason, the accurate and reliable measurement of its specific activity in soil gas is mandatory. Since its presence is influenced by many environmental factors, in order to eliminate this influence on the radon activity measurement a multi-parametric and multi-site analysis is necessary. Following this approach, a continuous radon monitoring was carried out in two sites of the Phlegrean Fields caldera (Campania, Italy) using the RaMonA system, which also allows for the measurement of temperature, relative humidity and pressure. In particular, the dependence of measured radon specific activity on the meteorological conditions was studied using the multiple linear regression method. The analysis was implemented also by testing data averages on different timescales. In this paper, the results of a preliminary analysis performed on data collected throughout 2012 are presented; the outcomes obtained allow to emphasize site-specific behavior and to discriminate apparent radon “anomalies” of climatic origin from those tied to the phenomena occurring in the earth’s crust. The method employed showed its usefulness by removing the effects of meteorological conditions and thus to better identify the possible radon anomalies caused by seismo-volcanic activity. The peculiarities of the different sites and some correlations with earthquakes are discussed.