2010 Volume 88 Issue 2 Pages 123-134
A new automated 222Rn measuring system suitable for a wide range of atmospheric observations has been developed. This system comprises a 222Rn analyzer and an air-sampling unit, along with a pump, drying equipment, and a filter. The operation of this 222Rn analyzer is based on an electrostatic collection method involving the use of a PIN photodiode to separately detect a particles emitted from 218Po and 214Po released from the decay of 222Rn in a hemispheric air-sample chamber. The response of the 222Rn analyzer with respect to the applied voltage, chamber volume size, and sample flow rate is investigated to determine the appropriate measuring conditions. With this instrument, the detection limits have improved to 0.16-0.20 Bq m-3 for 1 h. The new 222Rn analyzer shows several technical advancements over the previous electrostatic collection methods, such as an improved detection limit, higher sensitivity, higher time-resolution analysis, and longer life. During the preliminary observational test, the 222Rn measuring system was able to detect the diurnal cycle in 222Rn resulting from the mixing of rapid vertical air in the surface boundary layer. At the Minamitorishima station located far from the continent, very small 222Rn peaks were clearly detected when long-range transport of polluted air masses from the Asian continent was observed at the station. We demonstrate that our compact 222Rn measuring system has the potential to be widely used for high time-resolution measurements of low-level 222Rn.
