Temporal variability of radon in the atmosphere of Domica and Važecká Karst caves (Slovakia).
Continual monitoring of radon activity concentration was performed in two caves: Domica and Važecká. Radon in the air of the Domica cave was monitored from June 2010 to July 2011. Radon research in the Važecká cave started in June 2012 and it is still being carried out. Radon concentration in cave atmosphere exhibited seasonal, short-term and daily variations. Daily average of radon in Domica varied from 0.5 to 2.7 kBq m(-3). Seasonal trend was characterised by the highest concentration in September and the lowest from February to March. Radon concentration in the Važecká cave was significantly higher, and the daily average ranged from 1.0 to 5.3 kBq m(-3). The highest values were registered from June to September and in January. The seasonal and daily variations of 222Rn activity concentration in the atmosphere of both caves are assumed to be associated with the atmospheric temperature. No effect of atmospheric pressure on radon short-term variation was found.
Geophysical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava 845 28, Slovakia geofivas@savba.sk.
I
I
Smetanová
Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava 842 48, Slovakia.
K
K
Holý
State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Caves Administration, Hodžova 11, Liptovský Mikuláš 031 01, Slovakia.
J
J
Zelinka
MicroStep-MIS, Čavojského 1, Bratislava 841 04, Slovakia.
J
J
Omelka
D001272:Atmosphere; D059552:Caves / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D018154:Slovakia
D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011886:Radon