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A clear case of radon anomaly associated with a micro‐earthquake event in a Stable Continental Region
Author(s) -
Reddy D. V.,
Sukhija B. S.,
Nagabhushanam P.,
Kumar Devender
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl019971
Subject(s) - radon , seismology , geology , anomaly (physics) , groundwater , geotechnical engineering , physics , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics
Though many worldwide attempts to establish radon anomalies in soil and groundwater as precursors for major earthquakes are made, yet practically no such work has been reported for micro‐earthquakes in a Stable Continental Region (SCR). From the continuous radon measurements for five months at a depth of 1 m in fractured granitic area, we report for the first time that enhanced radon concentration preceded seventeen hours the occurrence of micro earthquake. The peak radon level (twice the normal concentration) was reached thirteen hours before the occurrence of the event and decayed exponentially during the next 5 days to come to normal level. This radon precursor pertains to a dry period, unaffected by meteorological factors, thus exemplifies clearly its association with micro earthquake.