Daily Variability of Radon Gas in Brazilian Tropics Near Ground Level Surface

By monitoring the ionizing radiation from minute to minute in S^o Jos6 dos Campos, SP, Brazil （230 S, 450 W） using Geiger counter, during January to August 2015, it has confirmed the presence of radon gas in these measures. The observation confirms the existence of a periodicity of 24 hours through the technique （Fast Fourier Transform） applied to the data set, and this cycle can be better visible in longer dry periods. On rainy days or with heavy fog in the region, this periodicity is modified or even disappears. As Geiger do not detect alpha particles due to absorption in the walls of the sensor tube, it measured X and gamma rays coming from the radon gas progeny. Radon gas （222Rn） has a half-life of 19.7 minutes to decays in 214Bi emitting gamma ray energy （45%） with 0.609 MeV which is monitored daily by Geiger. Also 222Rn decays in 26.8 minutes in 214pb giving （37%） with 0.35 MeV and others with less energy. It is confirmed the good performance ofa Geiger tube with LND 712 working with about 500 VDC rated voltage.

Design of comprehensive test system for detecting overlying strata mining-induced fractures on surface with radon gas

Based on radon gas properties and its existing projects applications, we firstly attempted to apply geo- physical and chemical properties of radon gas in the field of mining engineering, and imported radioac- tive measurement method to detect the development process of the overlying strata mining-induced fractures and their contained water quality in underground coal mining, which not only innovates a more simple-fast-reliable detection method, but also further expands the applications of radon gas detection technology in mining field. A 3D simulation design of comprehensive testing system for detecting strata mining-induced fractures on surface with radon gas (CTSR) was carried out by using a large-scale 3D solid model design software Pro/Engineer (Pro/E), which overcame three main disadvantages of ''static design thought, 2D planar design and heavy workload for remodification design'' on exiting design for mining engineering test systems. Meanwhile, based on the simulation design results of Pro/E software, the sta- bility of the jack-screw pressure bar for the key component in CTSR was checked with a material mechan- ics theory, which provided a reliable basis for materials selection during the latter machining process.

Measurement of radon gas on major faults in California,USA

Abundant data have been gathered through measurements of radon gas emission in the soil on several major active faults,such as San Andreas and Calaveras,in California,U.S.A..They show radon emissions and their spatial variations at the unlocked,locked,and creeping sections of faults with different tectonic movements.The characteristics of these variations and the role of fault gases in the research on earthquake prediction are discussed in this paper.

Monitoring of Ionizing Radiation from Radon Gas （Rn-222） in Sao Jose Dos Campos--Brazil Region

It is common knowledge that we live in an environment which comprises ionizing radiation （X-rays, gamma rays）. These radiation in normal situations is produced by natural phenomena such as cosmic rays from different sources in Universe and the decay of radioactive elements present in the Earth planet atmosphere and crust. Ionizing radiation can also be produced by human activities such as those related to nuclear power generation and use in medicine and industry. Although ionizing radiations are part of our daily lives, few students or researchers have the opportunity to perform measurements and observations of the background radiation. To overcome this deficiency in education, we started a pilot project that propose measures and observations of environmental radiation background with students of the ITA （Technological Institute of Aeronautics, Silo Paulo）. Using compact and portable detector to observe gamma radiation like described in this work, many graduate students can participate.

Radon Gas Measurements through Geiger and Sodium Iodide Scintillator——Study Efficiency Comparison

With the use ofa Geiger proportional counter with sensor tube of Russian and Chinese origin, a comparison was made in this work between measurements of environmental ionizing radiation with these detectors and a sodium iodide scintillator activated with TI （Thallium NaI）. Through measurements carried out in a room located inside a tower 25 meters high on the ITA （Technological Institute of Aeronautics） campus, it was possible to study the efficiency of the three instruments for the environmental measurement of ionizing radiations at that location. Between March 7th and June 2nd of 2017, in that region, nine intense and weak rains were observed with 12 cold fronts coming from southern Brazil. Radiation measurements and the local meteorology involved are analyzed in this work to verify possible correlations.

Measurement and Result of Soil Gas Radon and Soil Gas Mercury in the Exploration of Haihe Hidden Fault

In the exploration of the hidden Haihe fault,radon and mercury in soil gas were measured by using FG-3017 radon detector and XG-4 mercury analyzer.In this paper,based on the measurement results of 12 fault gas profiles,and integrating with the exploration results of artificial seismic prospecting,the relationship between anomalous site of fault gas and fault location is analyzed.Using the relationship between anomalous strength of fault gas and fault activity,the activity of Haihe fault is studied,thus the location and activity segmentation of the Haihe fault in Tianjin region are presented.This study shows that the method of fault gas detection can not only identify the preliminary location of fault,but also make preliminary segmentation of fault activity.The fault detected by the method of fault gas measurement is shown as a band.Through contrasting with exploration results of artificial seismic prospecting and analyzing,we find that the fault is located inside the band.According to the measurements of soil gas radon,the Haihe fault can be divided into east and west segments and the activity of the east segment of Haihe fault is stronger than that of the west segment.This is only a relative result,and it is difficult to judge whether the fault is active or not with this result.

Weather Events Associated with Strong Earthquakes and Seismic Swarms in Italy

This study discusses the possible relationship between potentially destructive seismic events,earthquake swarms,and intense weather events occurring in the same epicentral zone at time intervals ranging from one day to a few weeks.The objective of the present study is,therefore,to analyze the interaction between the lithosphere,atmosphere,and ionosphere in order to propose,prospectively,a new hydro-climatic model to be applied not only in Italy,where this research was carried out.The study concerns some of the most intense Italian earthquakes starting from 1920,with the destructive event in Lunigiana,in North Western Apennines,until the recent earthquake swarm that hit the Emilia-Romagna region followed,as in the cases analyzed in this research,by strong atmospheric disturbances.The recurrence associating seismic events with atmospheric precipitation allows us to propose some hypotheses about the triggering mechanism.In tectonically stressed areas,during pre-seismic and seismic phases,the release of gases from the ground and electrical charges near active faults is known.It is hypothesized that water condensation nuclei are carried by radon gas on atmospheric gases,also originating from cosmic rays in the upper atmosphere,generated by air ionization.

Air renewal times and ventilation rate calculations for underground workings using radioactive measurement

Potential alpha emitters are of prime concern to the ventilation engineer due to their rapid concentration increasing once radon released in the mine atmosphere, causing tissue irradiation and lung cancer.Studying of the time based variations of the natural ventilation in tunnels and their relationship to the external parameters contribute to the air circulation assessment. Due to the continuous and high fluctuation of the meteorological conditions affecting the air circulation and intensity through the underground workings, there is a difficulty in the natural ventilation assessment by only the ordinary meteorological measurements. So, in this paper, the possibility of using the radioactive measurements, allowing for the air aging and ventilation quality to be qualified, is investigated through three different underground structures. Referring to the most confined structure of them, results show that one structure has a better exchange rate by a factor 1.8 and the other has the best rate by a factor 2.1. This parameter can be linked to the operating costs and size of a future ventilation system.

Environmental Low Energy Gamma Rays Measurements in Brazilian Tropics Region During 2016

Low energy gamma radiation （0.2-10.0） MeV near the Earth＇s surface has several origins. Primary and secondary cosmic radiations with interactions of very high energy protons （〉 1 GeV） in terrestrial atmosphere are the main sources. The second most important source near the surface of the Earth and in the tropical and equatorial regions is the radon gas （Rn-222） that decays in alpha particles and gamma rays in this energy range. Also the telluric radionuclides 238U, 235U, 40K and 232Th in decays produce gamma radiation with different intensities at different locations on the surface of the Earth. Other sources less present are electrical discharges （lightning strikes） and man-made radioactive sources for medical, dental and industrial applications. In this work, it is shown that measurements of these components during all year 2016 are carried out at the ITA （Technological Institute of Aeronautics） campus in Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil and their possible correlations with atmospheric phenomena.

Monitoring of Ionizing Radiation and Rain Intensity during May to October 2015 in S^o Jos~ dos Campos, Brazil

Radiation affects the environment and local human activity in any location of the earth＇s surface. Due to this fact, the aim of this study was to monitor the ionizing radiation and rain intensity using portable devices. During May 23 to October 2, 2015, it was made measures the intensity of gamma radiation from 30 keV to 10.0 MeV at a height of 25 meters in Sao Jos6 dos Campos city, SP, Brazil. It was used a crystal of sodium iodide scintillator 3 - 3 inches coupled to a photomultiplier and associated electronic. The measurements were made continually with minute＇s interval throughout the period and it was monitored rain intensity every minute at the same height of the tower. In this job, it was possible to correlate rain-radiation and it was observed which gamma radiation has a directly proportional relationship with rain and visible frequency of 1 day.

Monitoring of Ionizing Radiation Using Geiger Instrument during February to April 2015 in Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, Brazil

Measures of ionizing radiation were observed in a tower which is 20 meters above the ground relative height. They show a distinct period of 24 hours oscillation during this Februaryl 1 to April 11, 2015. It is suggested that these oscillations originate from radon gas （222Rn） vented from the ground floor. One Russian specific Geiger tube with associated electronics developed at ITA was used, Monitoring of ionizing radiation from 30 keV to l0 MeV shows that the X and gamma rays up to 3.0 MeV is prevalent in the region comes from the Radon gas 222Rn that decay in 214Bi and 214pb in the energies of the gamma rays 0.269, 0.609 and 1.05 MeV respectively. Then, with this simple, portable instrument was possible to monitoring the dynamics of radon gas in the region every interval minutes.

Confusion over Cold Fusion: A Possible Explanation

The famous 1989 “cold fusion” experiment of Fleischmann and Pons is revisited and the results are discussed. It is shown that these results, which were attributed to nuclear fusion near or at room temperature but were never validated in any other environment, can be explained by presence of radon gas in the laboratory where the experiments were performed.