Development of groundwater radon continuous monitors: Comparison between α scintillation and γ spectrometry systems

Abstract

Two temporised continuous monitoring systems, designed to measure the radon concentration in natural environments, mainly groundwater, were assembled, tested and cross-check compared, evaluating the background noise, sensitivity, calibration values and soundest application in the Earth Science framework. The two systems have been customised by DINCE Laboratory, based on best-fitting criteria selected according to the ING laboratory, partially in the frame of two EC funded, Geochemical Seismic Zonation (GSZ) and Automatic Geochemical Monitoring of Volcanoes, addressed to earthquake prediction research and prototype developing, aimed to seismic and volcanic risks surveillance. Following best-fitting criteria of the radon monitoring aimed to natural risk research, both systems are operative by discrete temporised sampling of an aliquot of groundwater, with a minimal interval of six hours. During their functioning at the ENEA Centre of Frascati (Rome), the test-site chosen, both systems provided a continuous and reliable response

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