Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges
Searching for gas exhalation around major tectonic contacts raises important methodological issues such as the role of the superficial soil and the possible long distance transport. These effects have been studied on the Xidatan segment of the Kunlun Fault, Qinghai Province, China, using measurement...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2014
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/101845 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18788 |
| _version_ | 1811692795346288640 |
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| author | Richon, Patrick Klinger, Yann Tapponnier, Paul Li, Chen-Xia Van Der Woerd, Jerome Perrier, Frédéric |
| author2 | School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Richon, Patrick Klinger, Yann Tapponnier, Paul Li, Chen-Xia Van Der Woerd, Jerome Perrier, Frédéric |
| author_sort | Richon, Patrick |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Searching for gas exhalation around major tectonic contacts raises important methodological issues such as the role of the superficial soil and the possible long distance transport. These effects have been studied on the Xidatan segment of the Kunlun Fault, Qinghai Province, China, using measurement of the radon-222 and carbon dioxide exhalation flux. A significant radon flux, reaching up to 538 ± 33 mBq m−2 s−1 was observed in a 2–3 m deep trench excavated across the fault. On the soil surface, the radon flux varied from 7 to 38 mBq m−2 s−1, including on the fault trace, with an average value of 14.1 ± 1.0 mBq m−2 s−1, similar to the world average. The carbon dioxide flux on the soil surface, with an average value of 12.9 ± 3.3 g m−2 day−1, also remained similar to regular background values. It showed no systematic spatial variation up to a distance of 1 km from the fault, and no clear enhancement in the trench. However, a high carbon dioxide flux of 421 ± 130 g m−2 day−1 was observed near subvertical fractured phyllite outcrops on a hill located about 3 km north of the fault, at the boundary of the large-scale pull-apart basin associated with the fault. This high carbon dioxide flux was associated with a high radon flux of 607 ± 35 mBq m−2 s−1. These preliminary results indicate that, at the fault trace, it can be important to measure gas flux at the bottom of a trench to remove superficial soil layers. In addition, gas discharges need to be investigated also at some distance from the main fault, in zones where morphotectonics features support associated secondary fractures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T06:41:28Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/101845 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T06:41:28Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1018452020-09-26T21:33:45Z Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges Richon, Patrick Klinger, Yann Tapponnier, Paul Li, Chen-Xia Van Der Woerd, Jerome Perrier, Frédéric School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences DRNTU::Science::Physics::Radiation physics Searching for gas exhalation around major tectonic contacts raises important methodological issues such as the role of the superficial soil and the possible long distance transport. These effects have been studied on the Xidatan segment of the Kunlun Fault, Qinghai Province, China, using measurement of the radon-222 and carbon dioxide exhalation flux. A significant radon flux, reaching up to 538 ± 33 mBq m−2 s−1 was observed in a 2–3 m deep trench excavated across the fault. On the soil surface, the radon flux varied from 7 to 38 mBq m−2 s−1, including on the fault trace, with an average value of 14.1 ± 1.0 mBq m−2 s−1, similar to the world average. The carbon dioxide flux on the soil surface, with an average value of 12.9 ± 3.3 g m−2 day−1, also remained similar to regular background values. It showed no systematic spatial variation up to a distance of 1 km from the fault, and no clear enhancement in the trench. However, a high carbon dioxide flux of 421 ± 130 g m−2 day−1 was observed near subvertical fractured phyllite outcrops on a hill located about 3 km north of the fault, at the boundary of the large-scale pull-apart basin associated with the fault. This high carbon dioxide flux was associated with a high radon flux of 607 ± 35 mBq m−2 s−1. These preliminary results indicate that, at the fault trace, it can be important to measure gas flux at the bottom of a trench to remove superficial soil layers. In addition, gas discharges need to be investigated also at some distance from the main fault, in zones where morphotectonics features support associated secondary fractures. Accepted version 2014-02-12T04:31:12Z 2019-12-06T20:45:31Z 2014-02-12T04:31:12Z 2019-12-06T20:45:31Z 2010 2010 Journal Article Richon, P., Klinger, Y., Tapponnier, P., Li, C. X., Van Der Woerd, J., & Perrier, F. (2010). Measuring radon flux across active faults: Relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges. Radiation Measurements, 45(2), 211-218. 1350-4487 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/101845 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18788 10.1016/j.radmeas.2010.01.019 en Radiation measurements © 2010 Elsevier. This is the author created version of a work that has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by Radiation Measurements, Elsevier. It incorporates referee’s comments but changes resulting from the publishing process, such as copyediting, structural formatting, may not be reflected in this document. The published version is available at: [dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2010.01.019]. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Science::Physics::Radiation physics Richon, Patrick Klinger, Yann Tapponnier, Paul Li, Chen-Xia Van Der Woerd, Jerome Perrier, Frédéric Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| title | Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| title_full | Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| title_fullStr | Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| title_short | Measuring radon flux across active faults : relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| title_sort | measuring radon flux across active faults relevance of excavating and possibility of satellite discharges |
| topic | DRNTU::Science::Physics::Radiation physics |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/101845 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/18788 |
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