Abstract
Marine in situ gamma-ray spectrometry was utilized for a rainfall study at the W1M3A observing system in Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Italy. From 7 June to 10 October 2016, underwater total gamma-ray counting rate (TCR) and the activity concentration of radon daughters 214Pb, 214Bi and potassium 40K were continuously monitored along with ambient noise and meteorological parameters. TCR was proven as a good rainfall indicator as radon daughters’ fallout resulted in increased levels of marine radioactivity during and 2–3 h after the rainfall events. Cloud origin significantly affects TCR and radon progenies variations, as aerial mass trajectories, which extend upon terrestrial areas, result in higher increments. TCR and radon progenies concentrations revealed an increasing non-linear trend with rainfall height and intensity. 40K was proven to be an additional radio-tracer as its dilution was associated with rainfall height. 40K variations combined with 214Bi measurements can be used to investigate the mixing of rain- and seawater. In comparison with measurements in the atmosphere, the application of marine in situ gamma-ray spectrometry for precipitation investigation provided important advantages: allows quantitative measurement of the radionuclides; 40K can be used, along with radon daughters, as a radio-tracer; the mixing of rain- and seawater can be associated with meteorological parameters.
Highlights
IntroductionThe most utilized radionuclides are the naturally occurring radon 222,220 Rn and radon progenies (214 Pb, 214 Bi) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9], as well as the cosmogenic 7 Be [1,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]
The most intense photo peaks corresponding to radon’s 222 Rn progenies 214 Pb (242, 295, 352 keV) and 214 Bi (609, 1120, 1764 keV) were increased, while 210 Pb low-energy gamma rays (46.5 keV) are not able to be detected by the specific spectrometer due to the high Compton background in the related energy region
Clouds formed upon terrestrial areas are expected to be richer in radon progenies than clouds formed upon seas
Summary
The most utilized radionuclides are the naturally occurring radon 222,220 Rn and radon progenies (214 Pb, 214 Bi) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9], as well as the cosmogenic 7 Be [1,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. Radon progenies are easier to detect than 7 Be, either by sampling and measurement of rainwater or snow quantities or by in situ gamma-ray spectrometers exposed to precipitation, as they emit several gamma rays of high emission probability in a wide energy range (350–2200 keV). Radon as inert gas emanates from terrestrial areas and in the atmosphere decays producing radon progenies
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