Radon Anomalies Research Articles

Soil-gas radon monitoring in an active granite quarry from central Portugal

Abstract. Seven soil-gas radon monitoring stations were placed along the active front of a granite quarry in Canas de senhorim, Central Portugal, recording continuously for 81 days. Important differences in the radon concentration were found between stations, with average values comprised between 102 and 2982 Bq m−3, which can be explained by the local presence of uranium anomalies in the regional late-orogenic Hercynian granite, usually associated with faults. One of the boreholes exhibits large radon anomalies lasting for several days, and two, contrary to the others, show a clear daily periodic behaviour, with minima around 19:00 LT and maxima around 07:00 LT. The different patterns observed in stations placed at such a short distance (<100 m) has no clear explanation and deserves further investigation. Data analysis shows no evidence of soil-gas radon concentration changes during explosions carried out at the quarry. This is likely to result from the absence of a progressive stress field affecting the rock, as typically occurs before an earthquake.

Standardised Radon Index (SRI): a normalisation of radon data-sets in terms of standard normal variables

Abstract. During the second half of 2002, from late June to mid December, the University of Northampton Radon Research Group operated two continuous hourly-sampling radon detectors 2.25 km apart in the English East Midlands. This period included the Dudley earthquake (ML = 5, 22 September 2002) and also a smaller earthquake in the English Channel (ML = 3, 26 August 2002). Rolling/sliding windowed cross-correlation of the paired radon time-series revealed periods of simultaneous similar radon anomalies which occurred at the time of these earthquakes but at no other times during the overall radon monitoring period. Standardising the radon data in terms of probability of magnitude, analogous to the Standardised Precipitation Indices (SPIs) used in drought modelling, which effectively equalises different non-linear responses, reveals that the dissimilar relative magnitudes of the anomalies are in fact closely equiprobabilistic. Such methods could help in identifying anomalous signals in radon – and other – time-series and in evaluating their statistical significance in terms of earthquake precursory behaviour.

Increase in radon emission due to rock failure: An experimental study

[1] Radon anomalies are commonly observed prior to dynamic failure in the crust and are interpreted as cracking of the medium, thus attracting considerable attention in understanding the precursory phenomena of earthquakes and volcanic activity. In this study we have compared the starting radon emissions from low porosity crystalline lava (phonolite) samples with those from damaged and failed samples. The damaged sample was loaded up to just beyond the end of the linear elastic phase, as evidenced by the output of AE energy, the increase in total porosity and a decrease in P-wave and S-wave velocity relative to the intact sample. Whereas, the failed sample showed deformation behaviour characteristically brittle with increasing values of AE output and porosity as the sample approached macroscopic failure. Radon measurements have evidenced that dilatational microcracking of deformed sample produced no significant variation in radon emanation with respect to the intact sample. In contrast, after macroscopic failure, radon emanation drastically increased. Therefore, major finding from this study is that, in the case of low porosity and relatively high strength crystalline lavas, the development of a macroscopic fracture provides new large exhaling surface resulting in a substantial increase in radon emission rate.

Radon in earthquake prediction research

The observation of anomalies in the radon concentration in soil gas and ground water before earthquakes initiated systematic investigations on earthquake precursor phenomena. The question what is needed for a meaningful earthquake prediction as well as what types of precursory effects can be expected is shortly discussed. The basic ideas of the dilatancy theory are presented which in principle can explain the occurrence of earthquake forerunners. The reasons for radon anomalies in soil gas and in ground water are clarified and a possible classification of radon anomalies is given.

Studying changes in the structural and dynamic characteristics of a disintegrating massif of rocks using radon concentration variations

Experimental data on radon concentration variations were quantitatively interpreted on the basis of a proposed quantitative model that describes the process of the formation of high-amplitude radon anomalies. As a result, relative time variations in the structural (porosity and specific inner surface) and dynamic (pressure) characteristics of a disintegrating massif of rocks were reconstructed.

Radon Anomaly Analysis of Engineering Slopes

For various engineering slopes, due to unloading relaxation of the rock mass or sliding disintegration of the slope, the cracks inside the slope will open by different extent, thus when measuring radon content, different parts of the slope will have different radon content anomaly. Through analyzing radon content anomaly, information as the landslide boundary and structure zoning of the slope rock mass, etc can be obtained. Landslide boundaries and rock mass structure zoning and other information can be identified because of radon anomalies analysis. Through radon anomalies analysis on two projects, landslide boundary identification and zoning on bank-slope adit rock mass structure, it has proved that radon anomalies analysis could be well used as a complementary method to provide more analysis data and thus provide objective scientific basis for slope stability study. The analysis method used is simple, easy to operate, and low in cost. In the analysis, it shall be noted that removing interference from groundwater, desiccant humidity should be excluded.

Correlating recurrent radon precursors with local earthquake magnitude and crust strain near the Chihshang fault of eastern Taiwan

The active Chihshang fault in the southern segment of longitudinal valley of eastern Taiwan is part of the suture boundary between the Eurasia plate and the Philippine Sea plate. Radon anomalies in groundwater were recorded prior to three major earthquakes—(1) 2003 Mw = 6.8 Chengkung, (2) 2006 Mw = 6.1 Taitung, and (3) 2008 Mw = 5.4 Antung. The epicenters were located 24, 52, and 13 km, respectively, from the radon-monitoring well (D1) in the Antung hot spring about 3 km southeast of the Chihshang fault. Prior to the three major earthquakes, radon decreased from background levels of 787 ± 42, 762 ± 57, and 700 ± 57 pCi/L to minima of 326 ± 9, 371 ± 9, and 480 ± 43 pCi/L, respectively. Based on the radon volatilization model and the rock dilatancy model, this paper correlates the observed radon minima with local earthquake magnitude and crust strain. The correlation is a useful means of forecasting local disastrous earthquakes in the southern segment of longitudinal valley of eastern Taiwan.

The origin and detection of spike-like anomalies in soil gas radon time series

Desorption of radon is of short duration but longer than telluric noises and is usually accomplished in less than one minute based on our binary event counting with a 16 second interval. Adapting an hourly counting time schedule, telluric noises as well as transient variation of radon anomalies of a few hours duration can be excluded but not the spike-like anomalies of a few minutes duration. The time series of soil gas radon, as recorded continuously in a redesigned ditch located inside an active fault zone, has sporadic spike-like anomalies. The anomalies could represent desorbed radon from shallow sources as observed from a similar detecting system located near a construction site. Radon release due to compressive stress is related to compressive back-filling activities. Spike-like anomalies, on the other hand, are related to caisson auguring shear activities. Charge transfer related to electrokinetic potential phenomena may have resulted in the sudden radon releases and caused spike-like anomalies. The timing of the anomalies provides good information on the timing of electokinetic potential change as a result of outward propagation of stress from hypocenter. With multiple monitoring stations, the location, timing, and magnitude of the incoming earthquake can then be calculated or graphically derived.

Relation between spring water radon anomalies and seismic activity in Garhwal Himalaya

The variations of spring water radon concentration and meteorological parameters were analysed in relation to the seismic activities in Garhwal Himalaya, India. The radon anomalies were classified on the basis of statistical treatment of the daily observations. The precise measurements of water discharge rate from the spring have been made along with radon measurements for earthquake precursory study. The earthquakes with epicentral distances less than 150 km were considered by an empirical relationship. Pre-, co-, and post-seismic changes in the radon concentration were taken carefully into account in the empirical relationship to establish this behaviour as a potential earthquake precursor. The empirical relationship has been validated by the radon data recorded from the spring waters. The magnitudes of the earthquakes were estimated by using the empirical relationship by introducing computed correlation coefficient of radon and meteorological parameters. The calculated magnitude of some local earthquakes matches exactly with the magnitude recorded by the laboratory seismograph. The possible mechanisms that may cause a radon anomaly are also discussed.

Multi-disciplinary earthquake researches in Western Turkey: Hints to select sites to study geochemical transients associated to seismicity

Warm and hot spring water as well as soil gas radon release patterns have been monitored in the Aegean Extensional Province of Western Turkey, alongside regional seismic events, providing a multi-disciplinary approach. In the study period of 20 months, seven moderate earthquakes with M L between 4.0 and 4.7 occurred in this seismically very active region; two earthquakes with magnitude 5.0 also occurred near the study area. Seismic monitoring showed no foreshock activity. By contrast, hydro-geochemical anomalies were found prior to these seismic events, each lasting for weeks. The anomalies occurred foremost in conjunction with dip-slip events and seem to support the dilatancy and water diffusion hypothesis. Increased soil gas radon release was recorded before earthquakes associated with strike-slip faults, but no soil radon anomalies were seen before earthquakes associated with dip-slip faults. Geochemical anomalies were also noticeably absent at some springs throughout the postulated deformation zones of impending earthquakes. The reason for this discrepancy might be due to stress/strain anisotropies.

Application of recurrent radon precursors for forecasting large earthquakes (Mw > 6.0) near Antung, Taiwan

Abstract Radon anomalies in groundwater were recorded prior to three major earthquakes – (1) 2003 Mw = 6.8 Chengkung, (2) 2006 Mw = 6.1 Taitung, and (3) 2008 Mw = 5.4 Antung. The epicenters were located 24 km, 52 km, and 13 km, respectively, from the Antung radon-monitoring station. Prior to the three major earthquakes, radon decreased from background levels of 29.3 ± 1.7, 28.2 ± 2.1, and 27.2 ± 1.8 Bq dm−3 to minima of 12.1 ± 0.3, 13.7 ± 0.3, and 17.8 ± 1.6 Bq dm−3, respectively. Based on the radon precursory data, this paper correlates the observed radon minima with earthquake magnitude and precursory time. The correlations provide a possible means for forecasting local disastrous earthquakes in the southern segment of coastal range and longitudinal valley of eastern Taiwan.

Multiyear to daily radon variability from continuous monitoring at the Amram tunnel, southern Israel

SUMMARY Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas generated within mineral grains of uranium bearing rocks by alpha decay from radium. The Amram tunnel (A. Bloch Geophysical Observatory) is a particularly suitable location for the investigation of radon variability. Located in the arid environment of the Arava desert, near Elat, the 170 m tunnel that constitutes the observatory enables radon monitoring in a desert environment and under fairly stable environmental conditions. The analysis of the temporal variability of continuous measurements of radon and environmental parameters at the Amram tunnel over a period of several years shows a complex temporal pattern characterized by non-stationary and multiscale features. Radon concentrations exhibit multiyear variability in the form of a increasing trend of ∼1000 Bq m −3 yr −1 in the mean and much larger trends up to ∼2500 Bq m −3 yr −1 in the maximum radon levels. Radon concentrations also display strong seasonal patterns, with maxima in summer and minima in winter, ranging from 2.5 kBq m −3 in winter to 35 kBq m −3 in summer. Intraseasonal variability is characterized by very large radon anomalies, with sharp increases of more than 20 kBq m −3 relative to the base level, that occur in spring and summer and last for several days. Daily periodic variability with maxima around midnight appears also in spring and summer, being absent in the cold months. Radon variability at seasonal, intraseasonal and daily timescales is associated with the air temperature outside the tunnel, specifically the temperature gradient between the external environment and the more stable environment inside the tunnel where the measurements are performed.

Spectral-decomposition techniques for the identification of radon anomalies temporally associated with earthquakes occurring in the UK in 2002 and 2008

Abstract. During the second half of 2002, the University of Northampton Radon Research Group operated two continuous hourly-sampling radon detectors 2.25 km apart in the English East Midlands. This period included the Dudley earthquake (ML=5, 22 September 2002). Also, at various periods during 2008 the Group has operated other pairs of continuous hourly-sampling radon detectors similar distances apart in the same region. One such period included the Market Rasen earthquake (ML=5.2, 27 February 2008). Windowed cross-correlation of the paired time-series was used to identify simultaneous short-duration anomalies. In the 2002 data, only two periods of significant cross-correlation were observed, each corresponding temporally to a UK earthquake, one to the Dudley earthquake and the other to a smaller earthquake in the English Channel (ML=3, 26 August 2002). In the 2008 data, cross-correlation initially revealed little evidence of simultaneous short-duration anomalies but cross-correlation of data de-noised and de-trended using Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) revealed clear simultaneous short-duration anomalies which correspond temporally to the Market Rasen earthquake.

The dynamics of a double-cell hydrothermal system in triggering seismicity at Somma-Vesuvius: results from a high-resolution radon survey (revisited)

Data collected at Somma-Vesuvius during the 1998–1999 radon surveys have been revisited and reinterpreted in light of recent geophysical and geochemical information. The duration of selected radon anomalies, together with the decay properties of radon, have been used to estimate the permeability and porosity of rocks of the deep hydrothermal system. The current local cyclic seismicity is explained by means of a double convective-cell model. Convective cells are separated by a low-permeability horizon located at about 2–2.5 km below sea level. Fluids convecting within the upper cells show temperatures ranging 300–350°C. Rock permeabilities in this sector are estimated on the order of 10−12 m2, for porosities (ϕ) of about 10−5 typical of a brittle environment where fluid velocities may reach ∼800 m/day. Fluid temperatures within the lower cells may be as high as 400–450°C, consistent with supercritical regimes. The hydrodynamic parameters for these cells are lower, with permeability k ∼ 10−15 m2, and porosity ranging from 10−6 to 10−7. Here, fluid motion toward the surface is controlled by the fracture network within a porous medium approaching brittle–ductile behaviour, and fluid velocities may reach ∼1,800 m/day. The low-permeability horizon is a layer where upper and lower convecting cells converge. In this region, fluids (convecting both at upper and lower levels) percolate through the wallrock and release their brines. Due to self-sealing processes, permeability within this horizon reaches critical values to keep the fluid pressure near lithostatic pressure (for k ∼ 10−18 m2). Deep fluid pressure buildups precede the onset of hydrothermally induced earthquakes. Permeability distribution and rock strength do not exclude that the next eruption at Somma-Vesuvius could be preceded by a seismic crisis, eventually leading to a precursory phreatic explosion. The coupling of these mechanisms has the potential of inducing pervasive failure within rocks of the hydrothermal shell, and may be a prelude to a magmatic eruption. It is finally emphasised that the integrated analysis of seismic and geochemical data, including radon emissions, could be successfully used in testing temperature distributions and variations of porosity and permeability in active geothermal reservoirs.

Identification of Radon Anomalies at Mt. Etna (Sicily) by Using Three Different Methods

Identification of Radon Anomalies at Mt. Etna (Sicily) by Using Three Different Methods

The role of soil gas radon survey in exploring unknown subsurface faults at Afamia B dam, Syria

The purpose of this work is to determine a possible connection between anomalous radon values and some expected subsurface geological faults at Afamia B dam which is currently suffering a serious problem of large leakage through its bedrocks. A total of 82 soil gas radon sampling points were measured, using direct active method, over an area of 300 × 300 m which almost covers the entire surface of the reservoir basin. The results revealed a reasonable correlation between the geometric pattern of radon anomalies and the probable orientation of some underlying tectonic lineaments. Abnormal radon values, with peak signals of about 2–5 times higher than the background level, led to the detection of two probable fractured zones, denoted as F 1 and F 2. The data analysis suggests that the leakage of water from Afamia B dam almost runs vertically downwards along N60E trending fault zone F 2. Such a fault is very likely extending down within the Neogene formation to reach the permeable karstic carbonate rocks of Cretaceous at depth, forming large conduits through which the water of the reservoir is possibly drained off. This suggestion was in agreement with the general direction of the groundwater flow in the study area which indicates clearly that the supposed fractured zone F 2 may represent a catchment area for groundwater, and thereby it may constitute the most important structural element concerning the leakage problem of Afamia B reservoir.

Radon Monitoring in Soil Gas and Ground Water for Earthquake Prediction Studies in North West Himalayas, India

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.

Estimation of aseismic crustal-strain using radon precursors of the 2003 M 6.8, 2006 M 6.1, and 2008 M 5.0 earthquakes in eastern Taiwan

Aseismic crustal-strain signals prior to the 2003 Mw 6.8 Chengkung, 2006 Mw 6.1 Taitung, and 2008 Mw 5.0 Antung earthquakes with epicenters located 20, 55 and 11 km, respectively, from the Antung radon-monitoring station have been calculated using the radon anomalies recorded. Specifically, radon decreased from background levels of 791 ± 46, 762 ± 57, and 735 ± 48 pCi/L to minima of 326 ± 9, 371 ± 9, and 480 ± 43 pCi/L prior to the 2003, 2006, and 2008 earthquakes, respectively. The estimated aseismic crustal-strain maxima at the Antung hot spring during the rock dilation stage were 3.6, 2.7, and 1.3 ppm, respectively. The v-shaped radon pattern recognized in all three anomalies is valuable for detecting the aseismic strain precursory to disastrous earthquakes in the Antung hot spring which is situated in a brittle fractured aquifer of limited recharge surrounded by ductile mudstone.

Anomalous radon emission as precursor of earthquake

Recent years have seen an ever increasing interest in studying the usefulness of radon measurements in earth sciences. Radon emissions that are enhanced by forthcoming geophysical events as earthquakes or volcanic activity have been observed all over the world. The abnormal radon exhalation from the interior of earth, as a precursory phenomenon related to earthquakes and as an indicator of underlying geological faults, is an important field of investigation. For this purpose a number of active and passive methods for getting radon signals have been developed. Several models have been proposed as an explanation of the experimental field data. This paper gives a brief review of the progress made in the field of radon measurements in earth sciences specially in predicting earthquakes. Radon anomalies that have been observed in soil gas as well as groundwater or spring prior to earthquakes have been reviewed in this paper. The models proposed in relating precursor time, epicentral distance, magnitude of earthquake have also been discussed.

Earthquake precursory studies in Kangra valley of North West Himalayas, India, with special emphasis on radon emission

The continuous soil gas radon monitoring is carried out at Palampur and the daily monitoring of radon concentration in water is carried out at Dharamshala region of Kangra valley of North West Himalayas, India, a seismic zone V, to study the correlation of radon anomalies in relation to seismic activities. In this study, radon monitoring in soil was carried out by using barasol probe manufactured by Algade France, whereas the radon content in water was recorded using RAD 7 radon monitoring system of Durridge Company USA. The effect of meteorological parameters viz. temperature, pressure, wind velocity, rainfall, and humidity on radon emission has been studied. The seasonal average value and standard deviation of radon in soil and water is calculated to find the radon anomaly to minimize the effect of meteorological parameters on radon emission. The radon anomalies observed in the region have been correlated with the seismic events of M≥2 reported by Wadia Institute of Himalayas Geology Dehradoon and Indian Meteorological Department, New Delhi in NW Himalayas within 250 km distance from the monitoring stations.