Temporal signatures of advective versus diffusive radon transport at a geothermal zone in Central Nepal

Temporal variation of radon-222 concentration was studied at the Syabru-Bensi hot springs, located on the Main Central Thrust zone in Central Nepal. This site is characterized by several carbon dioxide discharges having maximum fluxes larger than 10 kg m−2 d−1. Radon concentration was monitored with autonomous Barasol™ probes between January 2008 and November 2009 in two small natural cavities with high CO2 concentration and at six locations in the soil: four points having a high flux, and two background reference points. At the reference points, dominated by radon diffusion, radon concentration was stable from January to May, with mean values of 22 ± 6.9 and 37 ± 5.5 kBq m−3, but was affected by a large increase, of about a factor of 2 and 1.6, respectively, during the monsoon season from June to September. At the points dominated by CO2 advection, by contrast, radon concentration showed higher mean values 39.0 ± 2.6 to 78 ± 1.4 kBq m−3, remarkably stable throughout the year with small long-term variation, including a possible modulation of period around 6 months. A significant difference between the diffusion dominated reference points and the advection-dominated points also emerged when studying the diurnal S1 and semi-diurnal S2 periodic components. At the advection-dominated points, radon concentration did not exhibit S1 or S2 components. At the reference points, however, the S2 component, associated with barometric tide, could be identified during the dry season, but only when the probe was installed at shallow depth. The S1 component, associated with thermal and possibly barometric diurnal forcing, was systematically observed, especially during monsoon season. The remarkable short-term and long-term temporal stability of the radon concentration at the advection-dominated points, which suggests a strong pressure source at depth, may be an important asset to detect possible temporal variations associated with the seismic cycle.

Graphical abstractRadon concentration recorded at GZ1A, GZ1B and GZ2. Raw time-series are overlain by the time-series filtered by a moving average of 250 h duration.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Variation of soil gas 222Rn has been studied at the Syabru-Bensi hot springs (MCT). ► Syabru is characterized by several CO2 discharges having fluxes larger than 10 kg m−2 d−1. ► Remarkable temporal stability in radon signal without barometric tide signature S1–S2. ► Results suggests a strong pressure source at depth. ► Is a perfect laboratory to detect temporal variations associated with the seismic cycle.