Improved semi automatic approach to count the tracks on LR-115 film for monitoring of radioactive elements.

An improved semi automatic technique for counting the tracks formed on LR-115 films with the advantages of simplicity and speed is reported. In this technique, a microscope with a Dino-Eye eyepiece camera is coupled to a PC equipped with a python compiler. After etching of the LR-115 film, 16 track images were taken to find the track density. The images generated were binarized before application of a Python algorithm. This process does not disfigure the original track and increase the spatial resolution. The batch process option in Jasc Paint Shop Pro was used to binarize the 16 images simultanously. The Python program automatically counts the total number of tracks formed on the 16 track images. This method was compared with manual counting and counting with the software program-Scion image to verify it. The results showed that the proposed method is reasonably good at counting the tracks. It is a faster and less time-consuming method, and will facilitate measurements of etched tracks in a variety of applications.

SOIL 222Rn CONCENTRATION, CO2 AND CH4 FLUX MEASUREMENTS AROUND THE JWALAMUKHI AREA OF NORTH-WEST HIMALAYAS, INDIA.

Soil 222Rn concentration, CO2 and CH4 flux measurements were conducted around the Jwalamukhi area of North-West Himalayas, India. During this study, around 37 soil gas points and flux measurements were taken with the aim to assure the suitability of this method in the study of fault zones. For this purpose, RAD 7 (Durridge, USA) was used to monitor radon concentrations, whereas portable diffuse flux meter (West Systems, Italy) was used for the CO2 and CH4 flux measurements. The recorded radon concentration varies from 6.1 to 34.5 kBq m-3 with an average value of 16.5 kBq m-3 The anomalous value of radon concentrations was recorded between Jwalamukhi thrust and Barsar thrust. The recorded average of CO2 and CH4 flux were 11.8 and 2.7 g m-2 day-1, respectively. The good correlation between anomalous CO2 flux and radon concentrations has been observed along the fault zone in the study area, suggesting that radon migration is dependent on CO2.

Geochemical variation of soil-gas composition for fault trace and earthquake precursory studies along the Hsincheng fault in NW Taiwan.

The present study is proposed to investigate geochemical variations of soil-gas composition in the vicinity of the geologic fault zone of Hsincheng in the Hsinchu area of Taiwan. Soil-gas surveys have been conducted across the Hsincheng fault, to look for the degassing pattern of this fault system. During the surveys, soil-gas samples were collected along traverses crossing the observed structures. The collected soil-gas samples were analysed for He, Rn, CO(2), CH(4), Ar, O(2) and N(2). The data analysis clearly reveals anomalous values along the fault. Before selecting a monitoring site, the occurrence of deeper gas emanation was investigated by the soil-gas surveys and followed by continuous monitoring of some selected sites with respect to tectonic activity to check the sensitivity of the sites. A site was selected for long term monitoring on the basis of coexistence of high concentration of helium, radon and carrier gases and sensitivity towards the tectonic activity in the region. A continuous monitoring station was established at Hsinchu National Industrial Science Park (HNISP) in October 2005. Preliminary results of the monitoring station have shown possible precursory signals for some earthquake events.

Radon monitoring in groundwater of some areas of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab states, India.

Radon measurements have been carried out in groundwater of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab states, India. Radon concentration values in potable water show a wide range of variation from source to source and from place to place. Generally, radon concentration values in thermal springs groundwater have been found to be higher than the values from other sources.