Radon anomalies preceding earthquakes which occurred in the UK, in summer and autumn 2002
R.G.M. Crocketta, Corresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author,
G.K. Gillmoreb,
P.S. Phillipsa,
A.R. Denmanc,
C.J. Groves-Kirkbyc
a School of Applied Sciences, University College Northampton, Boughton Green Road, Northampton, NN2 7AL, UK
b Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK
c Medical Physics Department, Northampton General Hospital, Cliftonville, Northampton, NN1 5BD, UK
Abstract
During the course of an investigation into domestic radon levels in Northamptonshire, two hourly sampling real-time radon detectors were operated simultaneously in separate locations 2.25 km apart in Northampton, in the English East Midlands, for a 25-week period. This period of operation encompassed the period in September 2002 during which the Dudley earthquake (magnitude ? 5.0) and smaller aftershocks occurred in the English West Midlands, UK. We report herein our observations regarding the occurrence of simultaneous short-period radon anomalies and their timing in relation to the Dudley, and other, earthquakes which occurred during the monitoring period. Analysis of the radon time-series reveals a short period when the two time-series displayed simultaneous in-phase short-term (6?9 h) radon anomalies prior to the main Dudley earthquake. Subsequent investigation revealed that a similar period occurred prior to another smaller but recorded earthquake in the English Channel.
Keywords
Radon;
Earthquake;
Seismology;
Radon anomaly;
Real-time monitoring
