Abstract
To study seasonal and diurnal variations and the effect of meteorological parameters, the equilibrium factor F (i.e. the ratio of equilibrium equivalent radon daughter concentration and radon gas concentration) was determined as a result of measurements on a test field at Munich-Neuherberg, Germany, continuously from October 1995 through March 1997. On average, F was found to be 0.62±0.09 (95% confidence level). The time series of F showed no distinct seasonal variations. Nevertheless, typical diurnal variations as well as seasonal variations of the diurnal behaviour were observed. Generally, F was found to be increased in the early afternoon, i.e. under conditions of enhanced vertical mixing in the atmosphere. The daily differences between high and low values of F depended on the season. On average, low F values were characteristic for days with precipitation and high wind speed, i.e. under turbulent atmospheric conditions. Therefore, taking daily mean values into account, F was found to be positively correlated with the aerosol concentration, although a relationship between the diurnal behaviour of the aerosol concentration and that of F was not detectable.
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Received: 6 September 2000 / Accepted: 20 February 2001
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Winkler, R., Ruckerbauer, F., Trautmannsheimer, M. et al. Diurnal and seasonal variation of the equilibrium state between short-lived radon decay products and radon gas in ground-level air. Radiat Environ Biophys 40, 115–123 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004110100096
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004110100096