Soil gas 222Rn concentration in northern Germany and its relationship with geological subsurface structures

Künze, N.; Koroleva, M.; Reuther, Claus-Dieter

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.07.009

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…5b). These results are coherent with the study of Künze et al (2013), who conducted soil gas analysis across the same border fault and found a similar distribution of increased radon concentrations in soil gas.…”

Section: Local Radon Flux Maxima (Lrfm)supporting

confidence: 90%

“…5b). The measured profiles roughly include sampling points of Künze et al (2013) who conducted part of their research on radon in soil gas concentration in this area.…”

Section: Research Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to radon concentration being significantly higher between 0.7 and 1 m than in shallower depths (Künze et al 2013;Rose et al 1990), we compared the radon flux signal at the surface and from a 1 m deep drilling hole for our specific sampling strategy at seven sampling points. We used the setup described in the sampling strategy chapter to measure radon flux at the surface.…”

Section: Exhalation Depthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been the subject of many scientific studies in many parts of Europe (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz 2019; George 2008;Kreienbrock et al 2001;UNSCEAR 1982) and radon risk maps have been established for many countries, including Germany (e.g., Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz 2020; Kemski et al 1996Kemski et al , 2001Kemski et al , 2005, Spain (Sainz Fernández et al 2017), and Switzerland (Kropat et al 2017). Furthermore, radon is used as a footprint for natural phenomena associated with soil degassing along active faults and fractures (e.g., Chen et al 2018;Iovine et al 2018;Künze et al 2012Künze et al , 2013Sciarra et al 2018), and as a precursor for volcanic activities (e.g., Giammanco et al 2009;Neri et al 2016) and earthquakes (e.g. Richon et al 2003;Steinitz et al 2003;Woith 2015).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local radon flux maxima in the quaternary sediments of Schleswig–Holstein (Germany)

Albert

Schärf

Enzmann

et al. 2021

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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This paper presents radon flux profiles from four regions in Schleswig–Holstein (Northern Germany). Three of these regions are located over deep-rooted tectonic faults or salt diapirs and one is in an area without any tectonic or halokinetic activity, but with steep topography. Contrary to recently published studies on spatial patterns of soil radon gas concentration we measured flux of radon from soil into the atmosphere. All radon devices of each profile were deployed simultaneously to avoid inconsistencies due to strong diurnal variations of radon exhalation. To compare data from different seasons, values had to be normalized. Observed radon flux patterns are apparently related to the mineralogical composition of the Quaternary strata (particularly to the abundance of reddish granite and porphyry), and its grain size (with a flux maximum in well-sorted sand/silt). Minimum radon flux occurs above non-permeable, clay-rich soil layers. Small amounts of water content in the pore space increase radon flux, whereas excessive water content lessens it. Peak flux values, however, are observed over a deep-rooted fault system on the eastern side of Lake Plön, i.e., at the boundary of the Eastholstein Platform and the Eastholstein Trough. Furthermore, high radon flux values are observed in two regions associated with salt diapirism and near-surface halokinetic faults. These regions show frequent local radon flux maxima, which indicate that the uppermost strata above salt diapirs are very inhomogeneous. Deep-rooted increased permeability (effective radon flux depth) or just the boundaries between permeable and impermeable strata appear to concentrate radon flux. In summary, our radon flux profiles are in accordance with the published evidence of low radon concentrations in the “normal” soils of Schleswig–Holstein. However, very high values of radon flux are likely to occur at distinct locations near salt diapirism at depth, boundaries between permeable and impermeable strata, and finally at the tectonically active flanks of the North German Basin.

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Section: Local Radon Flux Maxima (Lrfm)supporting

confidence: 90%

“…5b). The measured profiles roughly include sampling points of Künze et al (2013) who conducted part of their research on radon in soil gas concentration in this area.…”

Section: Research Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Exhalation Depthmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local radon flux maxima in the quaternary sediments of Schleswig–Holstein (Germany)

Albert

Schärf

Enzmann

et al. 2021

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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“…A combination of sedimentary loading and tectonic forces triggered the evolution of numerous salt structures (Scheck-Wenderoth et al, 2008;Scheck et al, 2003;Strozyk et al, 2017), varying in shape and dimension from elongated pillows to walls and domes (Stackebrandt and Beer, 2015). The Mesozoic and Cenozoic overburden on the Permian Zechstein salt thus varies in the region between more than 3000 m above low-lying pillows, to only few hundred m above the highest salt domes (Stackebrandt and Beer, 2015) some domes in northern Germany even pierce to the land surface (Künze et al, 2013;Sirocko et al, 2002;Stackebrandt, 2005).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical modeling of ice-sheet-induced salt movements using the example of northern Germany

Hardt,

Dooley,

Hudec

2023

Preprint

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Abstract. Salt structures and their surroundings can play an important role in the energy transition related to a number of storage and energy applications. Thus, it is important to assess the current and future stability of salt bodies in their specific geological settings. We investigate the influence of glacial loading and unloading on subsurface salt structures using physical models, based on the example of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in northern Germany. Apparent spatial correlations between subsurface salt structures in northern Germany and Weichselian ice marginal positions have been observed before and the topic is a matter of ongoing debate. Recently described geomorphological features – termed surface cracks – have been interpreted as a direct result of ice sheet induced salt movement resulting in surface expansion. The spatial clustering and orientation of these surface cracks was so far not well understood, owing to only a limited number of available studies dealing with the related salt tectonic processes. Thus, we use four increasingly complex physical models to test the basic loading and unloading principle, to analyze flow patterns within the source-layer salt and within salt structures, and to examine the influence of the shape and orientation of salt structures with respect to a lobate ice margin in a three-dimensional laboratory environment. Three salt structures of the northern German basin were selected as examples that were replicated in the laboratory. Salt structures were initially grown by differential loading, and buried before loading. The ice load was simulated by a weight that was temporarily placed on a portion of the surface of the models. The replicated salt structures were either completely covered by the load, partly covered by the load, or were situated outside the load extent. In all scenarios, a dynamic response of the system to the load could be observed: while the load was applied, the structures outside the load margin started to rise, with a decreasing tendency with distance from the load margin and, at the same time, the structures under load subsided. After the load was removed, a flow reversal set in and previously loaded structures started to rise, whereas the structures outside the former load margin began to subside. The vertical displacements during the unloading stage were not as strong as during the load stage, and thus the system did not return to its pre-glaciation status. Modeled salt domes that were located at distance from the load margin showed a comparably weak reaction. A more extreme response was shown by modeled salt pillows whose margins varied from sub- parallel to sub-perpendicular to the load margin, and were partly covered by the load. Under these conditions, the structures showed a strong reaction in terms of strain and vertical displacement. The observed strain patterns at the surface were influenced by the shape of the load margin and the shape of the salt structure at depth, resulting in complex deformation patterns. These physical modeling results provide more evidence for a possible interplay between ice sheets and subsurface salt structures, highlighting the significance of three-dimensional effects in dynamic geological settings. Our results lead to a better understanding of spatial patterns of the surface cracks that were mapped at the surface above salt structures.

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Gasphase im Boden(Prozesse und Konzentrationen)

Böttcher¹

2021

Handbuch Der Bodenkunde

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Soil gas 222Rn concentration in northern Germany and its relationship with geological subsurface structures

Cited by 12 publications

References 50 publications

Local radon flux maxima in the quaternary sediments of Schleswig–Holstein (Germany)

Local radon flux maxima in the quaternary sediments of Schleswig–Holstein (Germany)

Physical modeling of ice-sheet-induced salt movements using the example of northern Germany

Gasphase im Boden(Prozesse und Konzentrationen)

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