Radon content of groundwater as an earthquake precursor: Evaluation of worldwide data and physical basis

Hauksson, Egill

doi:10.1029/jb086ib10p09397

Cited by 182 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…However, this simplified picture is frequently contradicted by the lack of significant anomalies recorded before an earthquake (Kerr, 1978;King, 1981;Tsunogai and Wakita, 1995;Steinitz et al, 2003). Moreover, negative anomalies are sometimes measured at the seismic source (Hauksson, 1981;Kuo et al, 2006), while contemporaneous positive anomalies are inexplicably recorded at monitoring stations located hundreds of kilometres away (Kerr, 1978(Kerr, , 1981. Alternating increases and decreases of radon emissions are also measured prior to earthquakes (Wakita et al, 1980;Igarashi et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Real-time setup to measure radon emission during rock deformation: implications for geochemical surveillance

Tuccimei

Mollo

Soligo

et al. 2015

Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst.

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Abstract.Laboratory experiments can represent a valid approach to unravel the complex interplay between the geochemical behaviour of radon and rock deformation mechanisms. In light of this, we present a new real-time experimental setup for analysing in continuum the alpha-emitting 222 Rn and 220 Rn daughters over variable stress-strain regimes. The most innovative segment of this setup consists of the radon accumulation chamber obtained from a tough and durable material that can host large cylindrical rock samples. The accumulation chamber is connected, in a closed-loop configuration, to a gas-drying unit and to a RAD7 radon monitor. A recirculating pump moves the gas from the rock sample to a solid-state detector for alpha counting of radon and thoron progeny. The measured radon signal is enhanced by surrounding the accumulation chamber with a digitally controlled heating belt. As the temperature is increased, the number of effective collisions of radon atoms increases favouring the diffusion of radon through the material and reducing the analytical uncertainty. The accumulation chamber containing the sample is then placed into a uniaxial testing apparatus where the axial deformation is measured throughout a linear variable displacement transducer. A dedicated software allows obtaining a variety of stress-strain regimes from fast deformation rates to long-term creep tests. Experiments conducted with this new real-time setup have important ramifications for the interpretation of geochemical anomalies recorded prior to volcanic eruptions or earthquakes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Real-time setup to measure radon emission during rock deformation: implications for geochemical surveillance

Tuccimei

Mollo

Soligo

et al. 2015

Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst.

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“…Several investigators have proposed that micro-fracturing prior to major seismic events is responsible for precursory increases in ion and gas concentrations PAGEOPH, (HAUKSSON, 1981a;WAKITA, 1982;CAleta/., 1984;SuGISAKI eta/., 1983;. The exposure of fresh silicate surfaces, resulting from mineral fracture, is believed to both increase the rate of alteration reactions with groundwater and to allow the escape of trapped gases from the rock matrix.…”

Section: Increased Reactive Surface Area Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent monitoring programs have typically employed intermittent sampling from natural springs, shallow groundwater wells, or deep (2000m) monitoring wells, and have determined radon concentrations using gas-phase scintillation counting or liquid/liquid extraction of radon and liquid scintillation counting (FRIEDMANN and HERNEGGER, 1978;TALWANI et a/., 1980;TENG, 1980TENG, , 1984WAKITA et a/., 1980aWAKITA et a/., , 1985HAUKSSON, 1981a;HAUKSSON and GODDARD, 1981;ALLEGRI et a/., 1983;CHUNG, 1985;FRIEDMANN, 1985;KING, 1985aKING, , 1986LIV eta/., 1985;SHAPIRO eta/., 1985;SANTOYO et a/., 1987). Continuous monitoring of radon activities is now becoming a more accepted method, as the earlier results have shown that radon anomalies are frequently of short duration.…”

Section: Dissolved Gas Precursorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical precursors to seismic activity

Thomas

1988

PAGEOPH

225

112

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Abstract-Studies of earthquake precursory phenomena during the last several decades have found that significant geophysical and geochemical changes can occur prior to intermediate and large earthquakes. Among the more intensely investigated geochemical phenomena have been: (1) changes in the concentrations of dissolved ions and gases in groundwaters and (2) variations in the concentrations of crustal and mantle volatiles in ground gases. The concentration changes have typically showed no consistent trend (either increasing or decreasing), and the spatial and temporal distribution of the observed anomalies have been highly variable. As a result, there is little agreement on the physical or chemical processes responsible for the observed anomalies. Mechanisms proposed to account for precursory groundwater anomalies include ultrasonic vibration, pressure sensitive solubility, pore volume collapse, fracture induced increases in reactive surfaces, and aquifer breaching/fluid mixing. Precursory changes in soil gas composition have been suggested to result from pore volume collapse, micro-fracture induced exposure of fresh reactive silicate surfaces, and breaching of buried gas-rich horizons. An analysis of the available field and laboratory data suggests that the aquifer breaching/fluid mixing (AB/FM) model can best account for many of the reported changes in temperature, dissolved ion and dissolved gas concentrations in groundwater. Ultrasonic vibration and pressure sensitive solubility models cannot reasonably account for the geochemical variations observed and, although the pore collapse model could explain some of the observed chemical changes in groundwater and ground gas, uncertainties remain regarding its ability to generate anomalies of the magnitude observed. Other geochemical anomalies, in particular those associated with hydrogen and radon, seem best accounted for by increases in reactive surface areas (IRSA model) that may accompany precursory deformation around the epicenter of an impending earthquake. Analysis of the probable response of these models to the earthquake preparation process, as well as to other environmental factors, suggests that geochemical monitoring programs can provide information that may be valuable in forecasting the probability of an earthquake; however, because of the complexity of the earthquake preparation process, the absolute prediction of seismic events using geochemical methods alone, does not presently appear to be feasible.

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“…In the past, substantive evidence in support of many diverse kinds of precursors, including hydrological and chemical changes in subsurface fluids prior to or at the same time as a large earthquake, has been found. Among these are valuable, insightful precursory changes in gases involved in both hydrothermal processes, like Rn, He, CO 2 , CH 4 , H 2 , Ar and N 2 , and in water chemistry, like Cl − , F − , NO 3 − and SO 4 2− (Hauksson 1981;King 1986;Tsunogai andWakita 1995, 1996;Sugisaki et al 1996;Toutain et al 1997;Chyi et al 2005;Italiano et al 2005;Ramirez-Guzman et al 2005;Walia et al 2005;. Such geochemical anomalies are generally associated with changes in a subsurface water circulating system in the process of earthquake generation (Thomas 1988;Rojstaczer and Wolf 1992;Muir-Wood and King 1993;Rojstaczer et al 1995;Sugisaki et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemical Changes in Spring Waters in Taiwan: Implications for Evaluating Sites for Earthquake Precursory Monitoring

Song¹,

Chen²,

Liu³

et al. 2005

Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci.

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ABSTRACT1 Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC 2 Central Geological Survey, MOEA * Corresponding author address: Dr. Sheng-Rong Song, Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; E-mail: srsong@ntu.edu.twTo evaluate potential monitoring sites as well as useful ions which are capable of serving as earthquake precursors, ten subsurface water bodies in different tectonic domains in southwestern, northern and northeastern Taiwan were selected. They included the deep circulation of hot springs, shallower artesian springs and groundwater. Most of the hot springs clearly show chemical anomalies which correlate with earthquake events during the monitoring periods. Against this, the groundwater does not correspond to any events. Hot springs from deeper reservoirs are superior to artesian springs and groundwater from shallower reservoirs. The artesian spring from the smaller subsurface water body is superior to the groundwater from larger reservoirs. Aside from this, anions, especially chloride, outperform cations as geochemical precursors for earthquake monitoring. It is unambiguous that the major factors that determine the usefulness of chemical anomalies in the waters for earthquake precursory monitoring are the kinds, the depths and the size of reservoirs and the ion species of the subsurface water bodies.

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Radon content of groundwater as an earthquake precursor: Evaluation of worldwide data and physical basis

Cited by 182 publications

References 25 publications

Real-time setup to measure radon emission during rock deformation: implications for geochemical surveillance

Real-time setup to measure radon emission during rock deformation: implications for geochemical surveillance

Geochemical precursors to seismic activity

Hydrochemical Changes in Spring Waters in Taiwan: Implications for Evaluating Sites for Earthquake Precursory Monitoring

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