Corroboration for the influence of a component of solar irradiance on subsurface radon signals

REFERENCES 1. Steinitz, G., O. Piatibratova, and S. M. Barbosa, 2007. J. Geophys. Res., 112, B10211, doi:10.1029/2006JB004817. 2. Steinitz, G., Piatibratova, O., 2010a. Geophys. J. Int. 180, 651–665. 3. Steinitz, G. and Piatibratova, O., 2010. Solid Earth, 1, 99-109, doi:10.5194/se-1-99-2010. 4. Steinitz, G., Piatibratova, O., Kotlarsky, P., 2011. J. Env. Rad., 102, 749-765. 5. Steinitz, G., Piatibratova, O., Kotlarsky, P., 2011. Geophys. Res. Abs. v. 13, EGU2011-733. 6. Sturrock, P.A., and Collab., 2010b. Solar Physics, 267, 251-265.

Barasol MC 062 (Reference)

Day since 1.1.1998

3650 3652 3654 3656 3658 3660

kBq/m

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

o C

9.2

9.4

9.6

9.8

10.0

10.2

10.4 Barasol MC 062 (Reference)

Day since 1.1.1998

3748 3750 3752 3754 3756 3758

kBq/m

3

0

5

10

15

20

o C

9.2

9.4

9.6

9.8

10.0

10.2

Daily averages - smoothed

Day since 1.1.1998

3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300

Radon (

Coun

ts/1

5-m

inute

s)

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

Te

mp

era

ture

(oC

)

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Radon smoothed

Temperature-smoothed

Temperature Day-time

Day since 1.1.1998

3600 3800 4000 4200 4400 4600

oC

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Pressure Night-time

Day since 1.1.1998

3600 3800 4000 4200 4400 4600

oC

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Pressure Day-time

Day since 1.1.1998

3600 3800 4000 4200 4400 4600

mb

ar

(de

lta

)

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Pressure Night-time

Day since 1.1.1998

3600 3800 4000 4200 4400 4600

mb

ar

(de

lta

)

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15B062 Alpha; Day-Time; Paul

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

3590

3855

4120

4385

4650

Da

y

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

Po

we

r

Day-time

B062 Alpha; Night-Time; Paul 1.2004

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

3590

3855

4120

4385

4650

Da

y

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Po

we

r

Night-time

B065 Pressure; Night-Time; Paul

3.6003

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

3590

3855

4120

4385

4650

Day

-500

0

500

1000

1500

Pow

er

P Night-time

B065 Pressure; Day-Time; Paul

3.6003

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

3590

3855

4120

4385

4650

Day

-500

0

500

1000

1500

Pow

er

P Day-time

B062 Temperature; Night-Time; Paul

3.6003

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

3590

3855

4120

4385

4650

Da

y

-50

62.5

175

287.5

400

Po

we

r

T Night-time

B062 Temperature; Day-Time; Paul

3.6003

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

3590

3855

4120

4385

4650

Da

y

-50

62.5

175

287.5

400

Po

we

r

T Day-time

(site MM-0)

• Next to TEIDE volcano

• Elevation ~2000 m

• Measurement in subsurface concrete bunker, 5×5×3 m

Temperature lags alpha radiation (annual scale)

• Two peaks per day in Alpha signal • Not related to temperature

Day-Night influence by CWT analysis

Day-night influence occurs in the nuclear radiation from radon and

is ABSENT in Temperature and Pressure

0

1

2

3

4

5

Fre

quency (

yr-

1)

10

11

12

13

14

15

Fre

quency (

yr-

1)

0 5 10 15 20 Hour of Day

0 5 10 15 20 Hour of Day

Frequency (yr-1

)

0 1 2 3 4 5

CP

S

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140 Environment (temperature)

Gamma-C + alpha-H + alpha-L

Frequency (yr-1

)

10 11 12 13 14 15

CP

S

0

5

10

15

20Gamma-C + alpha-H + alpha-L

Environment (temperature)

0

1

2

3

4

5

Fre

qu

en

cy (

yr-

1)

10

11

12

13

14

15

Fre

quency (

yr-

1)

0 5 10 15 20 Hour of Day

0 5 10 15 20 Hour of Day

An independent confirmation of the solar effect in the experimental data is obtained by performing Power Spectrum analysis of the gamma measurements when broken down by hour-of-day.

In the frequency band 0 – 5 yr-1 (left), the strongest feature corresponds to an annual oscillation centered on mid-day. The next strongest feature is a semi-annual oscillation. This is mainly a night-time feature, but it has a peak at 17 hours.

In the frequency band 10 – 15 yr-1 (right) the oscillations all occur at nighttime. The strongest feature is at frequency 12.5 yr-1, but there is also a feature at 11.3 yr-1 and at 11.9 yr-1

CPS spectral analysis in the annual band of the three nuclear detectors, and ambient temperature. Annual, semi-annual and ternary-annual periodicities occur in the nuclear radiation from radon

A likehood analysis is performed using the Combined Power Statistic (CPS) formed from the gamma, alpha-H and alpha-L sensors

CPS spectral analysis in the SOLAR band (right) of the nuclear detectors indicate that Solar rotational periodicities in the nuclear radiation from radon. Such periodicities are lacking in ambient temperature.

Gamma-C; Night-Time

3.1202

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

0

50

100

150

200

Po

we

r

g-C Night-time

Gamma-C; Day-Time

1.2002

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

0

31.25

62.5

93.75

125

Po

we

r

g-C Day-time

Temperature; Night-Time; Paul

3.6002

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

-250

62.5

375

687.5

1000

Po

we

r

T Night-time

Temperature; Day-Time; Paul

3.1202

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

-100

125

350

575

800

Po

we

r

T Day-time

Pressure; Night-Time; Paul

3.1202

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

-10

7.5

25

42.5

60P

ow

er

P Night-time

Pressure; Day-Time; Paul

3.1202

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

-10

7.5

25

42.5

60

Po

we

r

P Day-time

Alpha=High; Night-Time; Paul

3.6002

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

-5e+11

2.5e+11

1e+12

1.75e+12

2.5e+12

Po

we

r

-H Night-time

Alpha-High; Day-Time; Paul

0 1 2 3 4

CPD

5500

5975

6450

6925

7400

Da

y

0

62.5

125

187.5

250

Po

we

r

-H Day-time

Day-night influence occurs in the nuclear radiation from radon and

is ABSENT in Temperature and Pressure

Confirming by Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) analysis Phosphorite

Alpha-HGamma-C

Alpha-L

Counts

/15-m

in (

gam

ma-C

)

2.3e+5

2.4e+5

Counts

/15-m

in (

alp

ha)

1100

1200

1300

1400

Year

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

gamma-C

alpha-High

alpha-Low

gamma-C

Cycle/day

0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

Am

pli

tud

e (

no

rma

lize

d)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Mean of two alpha detectors

Cycle/day

0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

Am

pli

tud

e (

no

rma

lize

d)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

2011

Day since 1.1.1992

7100 7110 7120 7130 7140 7150 7160 7170

Counts

/15-m

in (

gam

ma-C

)

2.410e+5

2.412e+5

2.414e+5

2.416e+5

2.418e+5

2.420e+5

Counts

/15-m

in (

alp

ha)

1388

1390

1392

1394

1396

1398

1400

1402

1404

oC

26.0

26.2

26.4

26.6

26.8

Gamma-C

Alpha-H

Alpha-L

Temperature

Day since 1.1.1992

7100 7110 7120 7130 7140 7150 7160 7170

w/m

2

316

318

320

322

324

326

328

330

332

oC

26.0

26.2

26.4

26.6

26.8

Solar radiation

Temperature

Temperature

Cycle/day

0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05

0

2

4

6

8

10

The experimental is performed in a square tank constructed of welded 3mm thick iron plates. The topside is fitted with three metal boards bolted into square profiles at the topside. Three metal tubes serve for the insertion of radiometric sensors. The upper sub volume of the tank contains air and the lower part of the tank is filled with ground phosphorite. The uranium (radium-226) in this material serves as the source of radon in the air volume of the experiment.

Spectra of alpha and gamma measurements (Experiment - 5 years) show clear peaks characteristic for annual and semi-annual, and also ternary-annual periodicity

The daily values of the two alpha detectors in EXP #1 during 5 years (exactly full annual cycles). The regression line calculated from the averages of both sensors shows a significant long term rise!

The annual peak of ambient temperature lags the annual peak of the nuclear radiation (gamma and alpha). Detail for 2011 shows the annual peak times demonstrates that temperature lags 10-30 days the peak of the alphas (blue, green) and the gamma (red)

Smoothed time series of the nuclear detectors. The semi-annual signal is observed

(published) • Dominance of solar tidal components in the annual, and diurnal frequency bands

• Annual modulation of the amplitude & phase of periodicities in the diurnal band

• Occurrence at different locations, at depths to >100 meter

• Similar phenomena in experiments of radon in confined air

And

• Negation of climatic influences; Lack of gravity tidal frequencies

• Solar rotational frequencies (rotation of Sun; 25-30 day period)

• Day-night differentiation of periodic signals - annual, daily & solar rotation

• Annual maximum of ambient temperature lags annual maximum of nuclear radiation

(~30 days)

• Confirmation of day-night differentiation at further geological locations

Periodic signals in Radon time series

Signal Period Observed

1. Daily 24-, 12-hours Field, Lab

2. Solar rotation 25-35 days (10-15 yr-1) Lab

3. Annual 365.2 days Field, Lab

4. Semi-annual 182.6 days Field, Lab

5. Ternary annual 121.7 days Field, Lab

Steinitz, G., Piatibratova, O., Kotlarsky, P., Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem Sturrock, P., Center for Space Science and Astrophysics, Stanford University, Stanford Martin, C. , Department of Geology, University of La Laguna, Tenerife

Gamma-C

0.18018

1.0201

1.9801

2.9401

0 1 2 3 4 5

CPD

5500

6000

6500

7000

7500

Day

-50

50

150

250

350P

ow

er

Wavelet analysis (CWT) – Measured data

Rn-222 occurs at highly varying levels in subsurface air (geogas). Nuclear radiation from radon in geogas and in air within a confined

volume exhibits systematic temporal variations. The variations are composed of periodic and non-periodic signals spanning from

annual to daily duration. Data sets from sites in southern Israel [1-3] and from a 5-year experiment [4] demonstrated that the

periodic variations are related to an above surface driver probably due to a component of solar irradiance. This is supported by the

observation of multi-year variations, and clear semiannual and ternary annual signals which are in addition to the annual periodicity.

Further cyclic phenomena are recognized, some of which are not linked with Earth related periodicities. The combined time series of

the nuclear sensors inside the tank confirms the annual periodicity as well as a clear semi-annual and possibly a ternary-annual

periodicity. Additional periodicities in the frequency range of 10-15 yr-1 in the gamma time series are indicative for a relation to

rotation of the sun around its axis [6]. Observation of solar rotational periodicities in the nuclear radiation of radon is a significant

independent substantiation for the notion of the influence of a component in solar irradiance.

An independent confirmation for the solar effect in the experimental data is obtained by observing day time and night time patterns.

“Specgrams” of the power as a function of frequency and hour of day show that the peak of the annual periodicity occurs at daytime

while the semi-annual and solar periodicities are seen to be prominent at night. This is interpreted to indicate a differentiation in the

nuclear radiation from radon as a function of rotation of Earth. – i.e. when Earth faces the sun and when the sun is completely

obstructed. This feature is also demonstrated using Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) analysis on time series composed of day-

time and night-time measurements. This validates the CWT analysis for detecting the phenomenon. Using the CWT analysis tool the

day- and night-time difference in radon time series is also detected at subsurface geological sites, from Israel, Tenerife and Italy.

These sites are from different geological and geophysical scenarios, different elevations and span depths from several meters to

around 1000m below the surface.

New multi-disciplinary prospects for the research are indicated in terms of a) the radioactive behavior of radon in above and subsurface air, b) an above surface geophysical driver for this behavior and, c) the influence of a component of solar irradiation.

Day since 1.1.1992

6000 6500 7000

Counts

/15-m

in

2.2e+5

2.3e+5

2.4e+5

2.5e+52008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gamma

Day since 1.1.1992

6000 6500 7000

Co

un

ts/1

5-m

in

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Alpha-H

Alpha-L

5 years

Alpha

Day since 1.1.1992

6000 6500 7000

Cou

nts

/15-m

in (

ga

mm

a-C

)

2.3e+5

2.4e+5

Year2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

oC

10

15

20

25

Gamma-C

Temperature

w/m

2

100

150

200

250

300

350

oC

10

15

20

25

Year

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Solar radiation

Temperature

The annual pattern of temperature lags the annual pattern of solar radiation.