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Meteorological Approach in the Identification of Local and Remote Potential Sources of Radon: An Example in Northern Iberian Peninsula

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel Ángel Hernández-Ceballos

    (Department of Physics, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain)

  • Natalia Alegría

    (Department of Energy Engineering, University of the Basque Country, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Igor Peñalva

    (Department of Energy Engineering, University of the Basque Country, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Jose Miguel Muñoz

    (Department of Industry, Basque Government, 01003 Vitoria, Spain)

  • Alejandro De la Torre

    (Department of Physics, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain)

  • Fernando Legarda

    (Department of Energy Engineering, University of the Basque Country, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • Giorgia Cinelli

    (Laboratory of Observations and Measurements for the Climate and the Environment, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 21027 Ispra, Italy)

Abstract

This paper presents a meteorological approach to identify local and remote sources driving the variability of surface daily radon concentrations. To this purpose, hourly 222 Rn concentration and surface meteorological measurements, and air mass trajectories at Bilbao station (northern Iberian Peninsula) during the period 2017–2018 have been taken as reference. To investigate the potential transport pathways and potential 222 Rn sources, the backward trajectory cluster analysis, trajectory sector analysis (TSA), and potential source contribution function (PSCF) are applied. On average, the diurnal 222 Rn cycle shows the expected behaviour, with larger concentrations during the night and minimum concentrations during the daylight hours, with differences in the seasonal amplitudes. According to daily differences between maximum and baseline values, 222 Rn daily cycles were grouped into six groups to identify meteorological conditions associated with each amplitude, and potential source areas and transport routes of 222 Rn over Bilbao. The trajectory cluster and the TSA method show that the main airflow pathways are from the south, with small displacement, and the northeast, while the analysis of surface wind speed and direction indicates that the highest amplitudes of 222 Rn concentrations are registered under the development of sea-land breezes. The PSCF method identified south-western and north-eastern areas highly contributing to the 222 Rn concentration. These areas are confirmed by comparing with the radon flux map and the European map of uranium concentration in soil. The results have demonstrated the need in combining the analysis of local and regional/synoptic factors in explaining the origin and variability of 222 Rn concentrations.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Ángel Hernández-Ceballos & Natalia Alegría & Igor Peñalva & Jose Miguel Muñoz & Alejandro De la Torre & Fernando Legarda & Giorgia Cinelli, 2023. "Meteorological Approach in the Identification of Local and Remote Potential Sources of Radon: An Example in Northern Iberian Peninsula," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-17, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:917-:d:1024858
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Miguel Ángel Hernández-Ceballos & Fernando Legarda & Natalia Alegría, 2020. "Analysis of Alpha Activity Levels and Dependence on Meteorological Factors over a Complex Terrain in Northern Iberian Peninsula (2014–2018)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Igor Čeliković & Gordana Pantelić & Ivana Vukanac & Jelena Krneta Nikolić & Miloš Živanović & Giorgia Cinelli & Valeria Gruber & Sebastian Baumann & Luis Santiago Quindos Poncela & Daniel Rabago, 2022. "Outdoor Radon as a Tool to Estimate Radon Priority Areas—A Literature Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-21, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Natalia Alegría & Miguel Ángel Hernández-Ceballos & Giorgia Cinelli & Igor Peñalva & Jose Miguel Muñoz, 2023. "Analysis of 222 Rn Surface Concentrations in the Basque Country (Spain): A Case Study of Heat Waves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.

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