Radon concentrations in surface air and vertical atmospheric stability of the lower atmosphere

The atmospheric air Rn concentrations have been measured in two sampling points in Spain. These points show very different geographic and climatological characteristics. Hourly measurements were taken over a period of nearly one year. The study has been carried out on the results of both sampling points and contains the following aspects: (a) influence of the origin of air masses; (b) statistical analyses and Fourier series; (c) relationship between atmospheric air Rn concentrations and meteorological parameters; (d) relationship between atmospheric air Rn concentrations and Pasquill and Turner's stability indexes. These studies show atmospheric Rn dependency on the vertical stability of the lower atmosphere. The obtained results imply a more effective use of Rn as a tracer in areas with a continental climate rather than a coastal one.