Ground variation of radon 222 for location of hidden structural features. Example of the south of France (Alpes Maritimes)

Abstract

Abstract--We report two examples from the south of the French Alps, showing that radon emanation monitored by alpha-sensitive film may be used to locate certain discrete structural features revealed in data collected by remote sensing from a satellite. The variations observed in our data, over a period of several months, are in accordance with atmospheric changes and might correlate with local seismic activity when the detectors are located directly above structural fractures and the magnitude of the seismic event is greater than 2.

A geostatistical approach for mapping and uncertainty assessment of geogenic radon gas in soil in an area of southern Italy

“…Since the advection mechanism is mainly associated with fault and fracture systems, surface distribution of deep or mixed gases may act as tracers of such tectonic discontinuities, such as fractures and faults of various dimensions (Ciotoli et al 1993;Klusman 1993;King et al 1996;Sugisaki et al 1980;Gold and Soter 1985;Torgersen and O'Donnell 1991;Guerra and Lombardi 2001;Inceoz et al 2006;Toutain and Baubron 1999;Walia et al 2005;Erees et al 2006;Choubey et al 2007;Fu et al 2005). Among others, He and Rn have proved to be the most reliable fault tracers (Reimer 1990;Baubron et al 2002;Borchiellini et al 1991).…”