1. On the variability of atmospheric 222Rn activity concentrations measured at Neumayer, coastal Antarctica.
- Author
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Weller, R., Levin, I., Schmithüsen, D., Nachbar, M., Asseng, J., and Wagenbach, D.
- Subjects
CLIMATE change ,ATMOSPHERIC radon ,COASTS ,SEA ice ,AIR masses ,STANDARD deviations ,NEUMAYER Station (Antarctica) - Abstract
We report on continuously measured
222 Rn activity concentrations in near-surface air at Neumayer Station in the period 1995-2011. This 17-year record showed no long-term trend and has overall mean ± standard deviation of (0.019 ± 0.012) Bqm-3 . A distinct and persistent seasonality could be distinguished with maximum values of (0.028±0.013) Bqm-3 from January to March and minimum values of (0.015 ± 0.009) Bqm-3 from May to October. Elevated222 Rn activity concentrations were typically associated with air mass transport from the Antarctic Plateau. Our results do not support a relation between enhanced222 Rn activity concentrations at Neumayer and cyclonic activity or long-range transport from South America. The impact of oceanic222 Rn emissions could not be properly assessed but we tentatively identified regional sea ice extent (SIE) variability as a significant driver of the annual222 Rn cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2014
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