Atmospheric concentrations and mixing of Argon-37

Loosli, H.; Oeschger, H.; Studer, R.; Wahlen, M.; Wiest, W. (1973). Atmospheric concentrations and mixing of Argon-37. In: Stanley, R. E.; Moghissi, A. A. (eds.) Symposium on noble gases (pp. 24-39). IAEA

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The 37Ar activity in ground-level air samples from various countries (Switzerland, Denmark, USA, Canada, India, Australia, and Argentina) was monitored since 1969. Low-activity values of about 0.0025 dpm/l of argon were in agreement with the expected production rate by cosmic rays after mixing in altitude and latitude. However, high-activity values up to 1.8 dpm/l of Ar were observed several times. These were attributed to artificial sources, most probably to underground nuclear explosions. Estimates indicate that 0.7 to 2 MCi of 37Ar must have been released into the atmosphere. Wind transportation and a two-dimensional multi-box eddy diffusion model were used to interpret the data in terms of atmospheric mixing. The best fit to the data was obtained with values between 1 and 3 x 1010 cm2 s-1 for an average latitudinal eddy diffusion coefficient between 200 and 700N. Minor variations in the 37Ar activity may be due to 37Ar released from reactors or fuel reprocessing plants

Item Type:	Book Section (Book Chapter)
Division/Institute:	08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Climate and Environmental Physics
UniBE Contributor:	Loosli, Heinz Hugo
Subjects:	500 Science > 530 Physics
Publisher:	IAEA
Language:	English
Submitter:	BORIS Import 2
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2022 15:28
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:54
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/161014