Laboratory measurements on radon exposure effects on local environmental temperature: Implications for satellite TIR measurements

• We have simulated in laboratory radon increases in the atmosphere.
• We have utilized two different techniques to induce radon increases in the atmosphere.
• We designed the experiment to measure eventual thermal anomalies due to radon.
• Eventual thermal anomalies could not be due to ionization processes due to radon.
• Eventual thermal anomalies could be detected, in principle, by satellite techniques.

Surface latent heat flux (SLHF) is proportional to the heat released by phase changes during solidification, evaporation or melting. Effects of SLHF on the earth’s surface could be measured by satellite techniques capable of measuring thermal infrared radiation (TIR). Recent studies have found a possible correlation between SLHF and earthquakes, hence satellite techniques are widely used in research into the possible link between SLHF and earthquakes. Possible fluctuations in SLHF values during seismic periods have been attributed to different causes, such as the expulsion from the ground of greenhouse gases or because of radon. In particular, ionization processes due to radon decay could lead to changes in air temperature. Laboratory experiments have been carried out to highlight the possible role of radon in the thermal environmental conditions of a laboratory-controlled atmospheric volume.