Vertical radon-222 profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer

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dc.contributor.authorZahorowski, Wen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, AGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChambers, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGriffiths, ADen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCrawford, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWerczynski, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorElement, Aen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-12T07:02:39Zen_AU
dc.date.available2020-06-12T07:02:39Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2011-11-15en_AU
dc.date.statistics2020-06-01en_AU
dc.description.abstractRadon-222 (radon) is a naturally occurring radioactive tracer of air mass transport on different time and space scales. In particular, the vertical distribution of radon has been demonstrated to be useful for characterisation of exchange and mixing processes within the atmospheric boundary layer. In 2006 we started a program of research, using radon-222 to advance our understanding of these processes as part of a broader goal to improve parameterisation schemes for vertical mixing in the lower atmosphere. Two types of experiments have been conducted. The first is based on continuous hourly estimates of radon-222 concentration gradients at two meteorological towers, one focussing on near-surface gradients (2-50m) recorded on a 50m tower at Lucas Heights in New South Wales (34.05ºS, 150.98ºE), and the other on boundary layer gradients (20-200 m) measured on a 213m tower at the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research in the Netherlands (51.971ºN, 4.927ºE). The second experiment type relies on the collection of high resolution radon-222 vertical profiles up to 4,000 m above ground level using radon samplers mounted on an instrumented motorised research glider. In this presentation, we discuss selected results from a unique set of high resolution vertical radon profiles measured in 2007-2010 in clear and cloudy daytime terrestrial boundary layers over rural New South Wales. The profile examples reveal the characteristic structure and variability of three major types of daytime boundary layer: 1) dry convective boundary layers, 2) mixed layers topped with residual layers, and 3) convective boundary layers topped with coupled non-precipitating clouds. We demonstrate that important boundary layer processes are identifiable in the observed radon profiles, including ‘‘top down’’ mixing associated with entrainment in clear-sky cases and strongly enhanced venting and sub-cloud layer mixing when substantial active cumulus are present. A related presentation (Chambers et al. 2011) outlines some recent results based on our radon gradient measurements at the Lucas Heights tower. © 2011 CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationZahorowski, W., Williams, A. G., Chambers, S., Griffiths, A., Crawford, J., Werczynski, S., & Element, A. (2011). Vertical radon-222 profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer. Presentation to the the CAWCR Workshop 15 November - 17 November 2011, Melbourne, Australia, (pp. 98).en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate17 November 2011en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameCAWCR Workshopen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceMelbourne, Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate15 November 2023en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc9619en_AU
dc.identifier.isbn978-0-643-10725-0en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1836-019Xen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination98en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.cawcr.gov.au/technical-reports/CTR_044.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/9645en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherCSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorologyen_AU
dc.relation.ispartofseriesCAWCR technical report;No. 44en_AU
dc.subjectRadon 222en_AU
dc.subjectBoundary layersen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectNetherlandsen_AU
dc.subjectSurface airen_AU
dc.subjectEarth atmosphereen_AU
dc.titleVertical radon-222 profiles in the atmospheric boundary layeren_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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