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Radon-222 measurements during the Tropoz II campaign and comparison with a global atmospheric transport model

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Abstract

The aim of the 222Rn measurements during the airborne campaign TROPOZ II, was first to help in the interpretation of the photochemical studies, and secondly to furnish a data set of 222Rn in the troposphere, for validation of atmospheric transport models. In this paper we present the 222Rn measurements, and their simulation with a 3-D atmospheric transport model based on observed winds. The 222Rn was measured using the active daughters deposit technique with isokinetic aerosol sampling. We have obtained 44 measurements distributed between 65° North and 55° South, from 1 to 11 km height. In 25% of cases, we found relatively high concentrations (> 300 mBq·scm) of 222Rn in the high troposphere (>8 km). The results of 3D simulations and the calculations of back-trajectories allow us to find the origins of the high 222Rn concentrations. The transport model reproduced most of the observed synoptic variations, but it overestimates the concentrations which implies a vertical transport of excessive velocity.

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Ramonet, M., Le Roulley, J.C., Bousquet, P. et al. Radon-222 measurements during the Tropoz II campaign and comparison with a global atmospheric transport model. J Atmos Chem 23, 107–136 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048257

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