Abstract
Continuous measurement of radon concentrations at, 1.5, 30 and 100 m has been carried out for 2 years, from October 1966 to October 1968. The mean diurnal variations of the concentrations are characterized in a simple manner using a Fourier analysis, revealing the diurnal and annual waves, and showing the variations with altitude of the radon concentrations. The amplitude of this diurnal wave can be considered as representative of the mean diurnal variation of the intensity of the vertical exchange processes.
This method of analysis is applied to the study of influence of standard meteorological elements measured at the site on the diurnal variation of the exchanges. Additional indicators are derived from temperature, humidity and wind (speed and direction) measurements, and their daily cycles (mean winds, mean direction, temperature diurnal variation amplitude...) are shown to be related to the cycles of radon concentrations.
The mean diurnal variations of the radon concentrations classified according to several meteorological parameters are used to characterize the intensity of mixing, in terms of a mixing coefficient.
This characterization is achieved both from the average gradients (local value) and from the diurnal wave at the soil.
Resumé
Les donées moyennes relatives à deux années de mesures continues du radon à 1.5–30 et 100 m au-dessus du sol sont présentées sous forme de variations diurnes standard; ces dernières sont étudiées par une analyse de Fourier (amplitude et phase). On précise l'évolution des variations au cours du cycle annuel.
Le but de l'étude des donées moyennes étant d'accéder aux informations relatives à la variation diurne des échanges, on a recherché des relations entre la variation diurne standard des concentrations et celles des échanges; d'autre part on a défini des critères, déduits des paramètres météorologiques, classiques susceptibles de caracteriser l'intensité de la variation diurne des échanges.
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Equipe de Recherche Associée au CNRS, No. 378.
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Druilhet, A., Fontan, J. Utilisation du radon comme indicateur de l'intensite des echanges pres du sol (0–100 M). Boundary-Layer Meteorol 6, 387–411 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02137675
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02137675