Determination of the alpha-ray emission of materials constituting the Earth's surface

Abstract

It seemed to be of interest to investigate the emission of alpha particles from rocks and other surface materials of the earth in order to find out whether these processes play an important role in the ionization balance of the lower atmosphere.The alpha emission from surface material was measured with a scintillation counter and photomultiplier tube.The values given for the emissivities of vegetation, rocks, and soils indicate that alpha-ray emission plays a not very important role in the ionization balance of the lower atmosphere.The exhalation of radon from rocks was investigated and a means of correcting for spurious counts due to this cause is explored.

Atmospheric‐electrical implications of 222Rn daughter deposition on vegetated ground

“…Intrinsic alpha-particle emissions from soil and plant parts may be significant within several centimeters of the emitters. Based on measurements of the alpha radiation from materials constituting the earth's surface by Hess and Parkinson [1954] and Hess et al [1956], we conclude that the ionization rate might be increased by a-factor of 2 or 3 within the plant canopy. The effect of deposited daughters of radon may be much greater than this, as will be argued below.…”