Abstract. Detailed 222radon (222Rn) flux maps are an essential pre-requisite for the use of radon in atmospheric transport studies. Here we present a high-resolution 222Rn flux map for Europe, based on a parameterization of 222Rn production and transport in the soil. The 222Rn exhalation rate is parameterized based on soil properties, uranium content, and modelled soil moisture from two different land-surface reanalysis data sets. Spatial variations in exhalation rates are primarily determined by the uranium content of the soil, but also influenced by soil texture and local water-table depth. Temporal variations are related to soil moisture variations as the molecular diffusion in the unsaturated soil zone depends on available air-filled pore space. The implemented diffusion parameterization was tested against campaign-based 222Rn soil profile measurements. Monthly 222Rn exhalation rates from European soils were calculated with a nominal spatial resolution of 0.083° × 0.083° and compared to long-term direct measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates in different areas of Europe. The two realizations of the 222Rn flux map, based on the different soil moisture data sets, both realistically reproduce the observed seasonality in the fluxes but yield considerable differences for absolute flux values. The mean 222Rn flux from soils in Europe is estimated to be 10 mBq m−2 s−1 (ERA-Interim/Land soil moisture) or 15 mBq m−2 s−1 (GLDAS (Global Land Data Assimilation System) Noah soil moisture) for the period 2006–2010. The corresponding seasonal variations with low fluxes in winter and high fluxes in summer range in the two realizations from ca. 7 to ca. 14 mBq m−2 s−1 and from ca. 11 to ca. 20 mBq m−2 s−1, respectively. These systematic differences highlight the importance of realistic soil moisture data for a reliable estimation of 222Rn exhalation rates. Comparison with observations suggests that the flux estimates based on the GLDAS Noah soil moisture model on average better represent observed fluxes.

Abstract. Although atmospheric 222radon (222Rn) activity concentration measurements are currently performed worldwide, they are being made by many different laboratories and with fundamentally different measurement principles, so compatibility issues can limit their utility for regional-to-global applications. Consequently, we conducted a European-wide 222Rn ∕ 222Rn progeny comparison study in order to evaluate the different measurement systems in use, determine potential systematic biases between them, and estimate correction factors that could be applied to harmonize data for their use as a tracer in atmospheric applications. Two compact portable Heidelberg radon monitors (HRM) were moved around to run for at least 1 month at each of the nine European measurement stations included in this comparison. Linear regressions between parallel data sets were calculated, yielding correction factors relative to the HRM ranging from 0.68 to 1.45. A calibration bias between ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) two-filter radon monitors and the HRM of ANSTO ∕ HRM  =  1.11 ± 0.05 was found. Moreover, for the continental stations using one-filter systems that derive atmospheric 222Rn activity concentrations from measured atmospheric progeny activity concentrations, preliminary 214Po ∕ 222Rn disequilibrium values were also estimated. Mean station-specific disequilibrium values between 0.8 at mountain sites (e.g. Schauinsland) and 0.9 at non-mountain sites for sampling heights around 20 to 30 m above ground level were determined. The respective corrections for calibration biases and disequilibrium derived in this study need to be applied to obtain a compatible European atmospheric 222Rn data set for use in quantitative applications, such as regional model intercomparison and validation or trace gas flux estimates with the radon tracer method.

Abstract. We report on continuously measured 222 Rn activity concentrations in near-surface air at Neumayer Station in the period 1995-2011. This 17-year record showed no long-term trend and has overall mean ± standard deviation of (0.019 ± 0.012) Bq m −3 . A distinct and persistent seasonality could be distinguished with maximum values of (0.028 ± 0.013) Bq m −3 from January to March and minimum values of (0.015 ± 0.009) Bq m −3 from May to October. Elevated 222 Rn activity concentrations were typically associated with air mass transport from the Antarctic Plateau. Our results do not support a relation between enhanced 222 Rn activity concentrations at Neumayer and cyclonic activity or long-range transport from South America. The impact of oceanic 222 Rn emissions could not be properly assessed but we tentatively identified regional sea ice extent (SIE) variability as a significant driver of the annual 222 Rn cycle.

Abstract. Aerosol loss in air intake systems potentially hampers the application of one-filter systems for progeny-based atmospheric 222radon (222Rn) measurements. The artefacts are significant when air has to be collected via long sampling lines, e.g. from elevated heights at tall tower observatories. Here we present results from a study, determining 222Rn progeny loss from ambient air sampled via 8.2 mm inner diameter (ID) Decabon tubing in the laboratory and from pre-installed 10 mm ID tubing at the Cabauw meteorological tower in the Netherlands. Progeny loss increased steeply with length of the tubing, decreasing sampling efficiency to 66 % for 8.2 mm ID rolled-up tubing of 200 m length at a flow rate of ca. 1 m3 h−1. Preliminary theoretical estimation of the loss yielded a sampling efficiency of 64 % for the same tubing, when taking into account turbulent inertial deposition of aerosol to the walls as well as loss due to gravitational settling. At Cabauw tower, theoretical estimates of the loss in vertical tubing with 10 mm ID and 200 m lengths with flow rate of 1.1 m3 h−1 yielded a total efficiency of 73 %, the same value as observed. 222Rn progeny loss increased strongly at activity concentrations below 1 Bq m−3. Based on our experiments, an empirical correction function for 222Rn progeny measurements when sampling through long Decabon tubing was developed, allowing correction of respective measurements for this particular experimental setting (tubing type and diameter, flow rate, aerosol size distribution) with an estimated uncertainty of 10–20 % for activity concentrations between 1 and 2 Bq m−3 and less than 10 % for activity concentrations above 2 Bq m−3.

Abstract. Detailed 222Rn flux maps are an essential prerequisite for the use of radon in atmospheric transport studies. Here we present a high-resolution222Rn flux map for Europe, based on a parameterization of 222Rn production and transport in the soil. The 222Rn exhalation rate was parameterized based on soil properties, uranium content, and modelled soil moisture from two different land-surface reanalysis data sets. Spatial variations in exhalation rates are primarily determined by the uranium content of the soil, but also influenced by local water table depth and soil texture. Temporal variations are related to soil moisture variations as the molecular diffusion in the unsaturated soil zone depends on available air-filled pore space. The implemented diffusion parameterization was tested against campaign-based 222Rn profile measurements. Monthly 222Rn exhalation rates from European soils were calculated with a nominal spatial resolution of 0.083° × 0.083° and compared to long-term direct measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates in different areas of Europe. The two realizations of the 222Rn flux map, based on the different soil moisture data sets, both realistically reproduce the observed seasonality in the fluxes but yield considerable differences for absolute flux values. The average 222Rn flux from soils in Europe is estimated to be 10 or 15 mBq m-2 s-1, depending on the soil moisture data set, and the seasonal variations in the two realisations range from 7.1 mBq m-2 s-1 in February to 13.9 mBq m-2 s-1 in August and from 10.8 mBq m-2 s-1 in March to 19.7 mBq m-2 s-1 in July, respectively. This systematic difference highlights the importance of realistic soil moisture data for a reliable estimation of 222Rn exhalation rates.