Measurement of radionuclides within the Global Atmosphere Watch Programme of WMO

Abstract

Abstract Within the framework of the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) is taking measurements of naturally occurring radionuclides at both the environmental research platform Schneefernerhaus (2650 m a.s.l.) and the summit of Germany's highest mountain Zugspitze (2962 m a.s.l). The radionuclides measured there include 7Be, 210Pb, 212Pb, 214Pb, 214Bi, and 222Rn. This paper especially presents the direct measurement of gaseous 222Rn with a limit of detection of < 0.05 Bq/m3. When combined with meteorological data, these measurements provide a valuable database for characterising air masses and a useful supplementary tool evaluating air transport models and identifying global atmospheric conditions.