Abstract
Continuous monitoring of soil gas radon at Sarol and the daily monitoring of radon concentration in water at Banikhet is carried out in Chamba valley of North West Himalayas, India “a well known seismic zone” to study the correlation of radon anomalies in relation to seismic activities of the region. Radon monitoring in soil gas was carried out by using Barasol probe manufactured by Algade France and the radon content in water was recorded using RAD7 radon monitoring system of Durridge Company, USA. The effect of meteorological parameters viz. temperature and pressure on soil gas radon emission has been studied. Correlation coefficient has been calculated between radon in soil gas, soil temperature and soil pressure. The radon anomalies observed in the region have been correlated with the seismic events in the magnitude range 2.2 to 5.0 recorded by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Dehradun in NW Himalayan. Empirical equations between earthquake magnitude, epicentral distance and precursor time were examined, and respective constants were determined.
Highlights
The prediction of earthquakes remains one of the most frustrating issues in the Earth Sciences and many independent forms of evidence have been cited to predict the occurrence of major seismic events
Investigations throughout the world over the past 15 years provide evidence, which indicate that significant variations of radon concentration may occur in association with major geophysical events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions (Al-Tamimi and Abumurad 2001; Chyi et al 2005; Fu et al 2005; Walia et al 2005, 2006; Yang et al 2005; Singh et al 2006; Kumar et al 2009)
The increase in radon concentration with temperature may be due to the increase in the diffusion rate with temperature (Singh et al 1988; Sharma et al 2000)
Summary
The prediction of earthquakes remains one of the most frustrating issues in the Earth Sciences and many independent forms of evidence have been cited to predict the occurrence of major seismic events. Investigations throughout the world over the past 15 years provide evidence, which indicate that significant variations of radon concentration may occur in association with major geophysical events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions (Al-Tamimi and Abumurad 2001; Chyi et al 2005; Fu et al 2005; Walia et al 2005, 2006; Yang et al 2005; Singh et al 2006; Kumar et al 2009). Due to such observed correlation, radon is considered as one of the few promising precursors for earthquakes. The analytical protocol in the present work is based on the analysis of radon emitted from the fault planes, a novel geochemical precursor that may help predicting the earthquake activity
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