SOIL GAS RADON MEASUREMENT AROUND FAULT LINES ON THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE NORTH ANATOLIAN FAULT ZONE IN TURKEY.

Abstract

Soil gas radon activity measurements were made around the western section of the North Anatolian Fault Zone. In the study, the variation of radon concentration at 12 different locations along the fault line was monitored by using LR-115 (solid-state nuclear track detectors) detectors for 12-monthly periods. Twelve radon stations were determined in the study region, and in each station, LR-115 films were installed in the borehole of ∼50 cm. The recorded radon concentration varies from 29 to 7059 Bqm-3 with an average value of 1930 Bqm-3. The influence of meteorological parameters such as temperature, pressure, total rainfall and humidity on soil radon concentrations in the study area was also investigated. The positive and poor correlation was observed between average value of 222Rn concentration and temperature. There is a reverse proportion between radon level with other meteorological factors (humidity, pressure and rainfall). The results show that the measured soil gas radon activity concentration shows seasonal variation in a highly permeable sandy-gravelly soil with definite seasons without obvious long transitional periods. The summer (from June 2013 to September 2013) is characterised by 1.8 times higher average soil gas radon activity concentration (median is 2.372 kBqm-3) than the winter (from December 2012 to March 2013) (median is 1.298 kBqm-3).