Distribution of natural radioactivity attached to atmospheric aerosol particles
Abstract In order to study the size distribution of a radioactivity due to radon daughters in the environmental atmosphere, an experimental procedure using filters, ion tubes, diffusion batteries and cascade impactors (CASELLA MK2 and ANDERSEN) is presented. A comparison between the experimental results and a theoretical curve, deduced of the attachment theory of the small radioactive ions on atmospheric particles, is carried out.
During the period 29 May to 23 October 1952, 90 sets of measurements were acquired using the searchlight probing technique. Treatment of the data yielded density, temperature, and pressure information to 67.6 km. These results are discussed relative to seasonal trends. An over-all average for the period is submitted for the three parameters. ::: ::: The temperature profile obtained for pre-dawn, 22 October 1952, is compared with rocket, anomalous sound, and radiosonde temperature measurements, all carried out within a 14-hour period and a 300-mile radius. Good agreement is evident among the four methods.