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Precipitation-driven gamma radiation enhancement over the Atlantic Ocean
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  • Susana M Barbosa,
  • Nuno Dias,
  • Carlos Almeida,
  • Guilherme Amaral Silva,
  • António Ferreira,
  • António Camilo,
  • Eduardo Silva
Susana M Barbosa
INESC TEC

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nuno Dias
INESC TEC
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Carlos Almeida
INESC TEC
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Guilherme Amaral Silva
INESC TEC
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António Ferreira
INESC TEC
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António Camilo
Marinha
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Eduardo Silva
INESC TEC
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Abstract

Gamma radiation over the Atlantic Ocean Gamma radiation over the Atlantic Ocean was measured continuously from January to May 2020 by a NaI(Tl) detector installed on board the Portuguese navy's ship NRP Sagres. Enhancements in the gamma radiation values are identified automatically by an algorithm for detection of anomalies in mean and variance as well as by visual inspection. The anomalies are typically +50% above the background level and relatively rare events (~ < 10% of the days). All the detected anomalies are associated with simultaneous precipitation events, consistent with the wet deposition of scavenged radionuclides. The enhancements are detected in the open ocean even at large distances (+ 500 km) from the nearest coastline. Back trajectories reveal that half of these events are associated with air masses experiencing continental land influences, but the other half don't display evidence of recent land contact. The enhancements in gamma radiation very far from land and with no evidence of continental fetch from back trajectories are difficult to explain as resulting only from radionuclides with a terrestrial source such as radon and its progeny. Further investigation and additional measurements are needed to improve understanding on the sources of ambient radioactivity in the open ocean and assess whether gamma radiation in the marine environment is influenced not only by radionuclides of terrestrial origin, but also cosmogenic radionuclides, like Beryllium-7, formed in the upper atmosphere but with the ability to be transported downward and serve as a tracer of the aerosols to which it attaches.
23 Feb 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
27 Feb 2023Published in ESS Open Archive