Estimation of Rn flux and its effect on the atmospheric Rn concentration at Hachijo-jima island, Japan

Okura, Takehisa ; Yamazawa, Hiromi*; Moriizumi, Jun*; Hirao, Shigekazu*; Iida, Takao*

Measurements of Rn flux from the ground and Ra content in soil were made on Hachijo-jima, which is a solitary island in the Pacific about 200 km to the south of the main island of Japan, to evaluate effect of locally exhaled Rn to the surface air concentration of Rn measured on this island. Averages of Rn flux and Ra content in dry soil were 0.88 mBq m s and 6.8 Bq kg at Hachijo-jima and 9.7 mBq m s and 23.2 Bq kg at Nagoya, respectively. The low level Ra content in soil is one of main causes for the small Rn flux at the island. With this Rn flux, the contribution of locally exhaled Rn from the island was estimated by a simple model to occur at concentration of 0.035 to 0.072 Bq m (relative contribution is 4 to 12%) under typical nocturnal condition. Under diurnal condition effect is lower than that of nocturnal condition. This local Rn component is negligible as compared with concentration of long-range transported Rn of 0.5 to 3 Bq m.