Latitudinal distribution of radon-222 flux from continents

F. Conen; L. B. Robertson

doi:10.3402/tellusb.v54i2.16653

Latitudinal distribution of radon-222 flux from continents

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

Volume 54 (2002): Issue 2

By: F. Conen and L. B. Robertson

Open Access

|Jan 2002

Abstract

Global atmospheric transport models are frequently tested by using ²²²Rn as a tracer. Generally this tracer is assumed to be emitted at a uniform rate (1 atom cm⁻² s⁻¹) from all ice-free land surfaces. The analysis of published data suggests a strong decrease from 30°N northwards to 0.2 atom cm⁻² s⁻¹ at 70°N. This could be a result of increasing water tables and proportions of organic soils as indicated by larger proportions of wetlands in northern latitudes.

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