On the variability of atmospheric 222Rn activity concentrations measured at Neumayer, coastal Antarctica

• Published in: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
• Main Authors: Weller, Rolf, Levin, Ingeborg, Schmithüsen, Dominik, Nachbar, Mario, Asseng, Jölund, Wagenbach, Dietmar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH 2014
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/34405/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/34405/1/acp-14-3843-2014.pdf; http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/3843/2014/; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.43451; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.43451.d001

We report on continuously measured 222Rn activity in near surface air at Neumayer Station in the period 1995 through 2011. This 17 years record showed no long-term trend and has overall mean ± standard deviation of (0.019±0.012) Bq m-3. A distinct and persistent seasonality could be distinguished with maximum values of (0.028±0.013) Bq m-3 from January through March and minimum values of (0.015±0.009) Bq m-3 from May through October. Elevated 222Rn activity concentrations were typically associated with air mass transport from the Antarctic Plateau. Our results do not support a relation between enhanced 222Rn activity concentrations at Neumayer and cyclonic activity or long-range transport from South America. The impact of oceanic 222Rn emissions could not be properly assessed but we tentatively identified regional SIE variability as a significant driver of the annual 222Rn cycle.