A radon-only technique for quantifying the effects of atmospheric stability on air pollution concentrations

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dc.contributor.authorChambers, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, AGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCrawford, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGriffiths, ADen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-15T01:11:40Zen_AU
dc.date.available2020-06-15T01:11:40Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-01-21en_AU
dc.date.statistics2020-05-15en_AU
dc.description.abstractRadon-222 is a useful tool for quantifying stability influences on urban pollutant concentrations. While bulk radon gradients are ideal for this purpose, since the vertical differencing substantially removes contributions from processes on timescales greater than diurnal, more commonly radon measurements are available only at a single height. Here we explain why single-height, near-surface (<20 m agl) radon observations should not be used quantitatively as an indicator of atmospheric stability without prior conditioning of the time series to remove contributions from larger-scale “non-local” (including fetch-related) processes. We outline a simple technique to obtain an approximation of the diurnal radon gradient signal from a single-height measurement time series, and use it to derive a 4-category classification scheme for atmospheric stability on a “whole night” basis. We then apply this stability classification scheme to selected climatological and pollution observations, and compare the results with stability classifications performed using the Pasquil-Gifford “turbulence” and “radiation” schemes. Lastly, we apply the radon-based classification scheme to nocturnal mixing height estimates calculated from the diurnal radon accumulation time series, and provide insight to the range of nocturnal mixing depths expected for each of the stability classes.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationChambers, S. D., Williams, A. G., Crawford, J., & Griffiths, A. (2015). A radon-only technique for quantifying the effects of atmospheric stability on air pollution concentrations. Paper presented at the International Symposium of Environmental Quality and Pollution Control, at Fusion Technology Centre, Hanyang University, Seoul Korea, 21 January 2015.en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameInternational Symposium of Environmental Quality and Pollution Controlen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSeoul, Koreaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate21 January 2015en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc9512en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/9662en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisationen_AU
dc.subjectRadonen_AU
dc.subjectRadon 222en_AU
dc.subjectUrban areasen_AU
dc.subjectPollutionen_AU
dc.subjectTurbulenceen_AU
dc.subjectAir pollutionen_AU
dc.subjectEcological concentrationen_AU
dc.titleA radon-only technique for quantifying the effects of atmospheric stability on air pollution concentrationsen_AU
dc.typeConference Presentationen_AU
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