Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8208610 | Applied Radiation and Isotopes | 2018 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
Recurrent groundwater radon anomalies were observed at the Paihe spring (P1) in southwestern Taiwan prior to the Mw 6.3 Jiasian and Mw 6.4 Meinong earthquakes that occurred on March 4, 2010 and February 5, 2016, respectively. Specifically, the concentration of groundwater radon decreased from background levels of 144â¯Â±â¯7 and 137â¯Â±â¯8 pCi/L to minima of 104â¯Â±â¯8 and 97â¯Â±â¯9 pCi/L prior to the 2010 Jiasian and 2016 Meinong earthquakes, respectively. The Paihe spring (P1) is located 46â¯km and 45â¯km, respectively, from the epicenters of the 2010 Mw 6.3 Jiasian and 2016 Mw 6.4 Meinong earthquakes. The above radon anomalies observed at the Paihe limestone spring corroborated that a small fractured aquifer can be used as an effective natural strain meter by applying radon as a tracer for earthquake warning in southwestern Taiwan. There are scientific difficulties and uncertainties in earthquake prediction. Nonetheless, a long-term monitoring of precursory declines in groundwater radon can provide useful data for forecasting local disastrous earthquakes.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Radiation
Authors
T. Kuo, W. Chen, C. Ho,