The diurnal variation of the amount of radioactive emanation in the atmosphere
Abstract
It is a well-known fact that the atmosphere contains a radioactive emanation capable of making a negatively charged wire exposed to it temporarily active. It has also been observed that the amount of the emanation present, as measured by the intensity of the excited activity of the wire, exposed for a given time, varies widely and seems to be dependent on a variety of conditions,—the direction and velocity of the wind, the height of the barometer, etc.In view of the fact that experiments at present being carried on at the Cavendish Laboratory show a more or less regular diurnal variation in the spontaneous ionization of the air inside a closed vessel, it was thought to be of interest to determine if the amount of radioactive emanation present in the atmosphere shows a similar variation, as this might be of aid in explaining the former fact.
- Publication:
-
Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity
- Pub Date:
- 1906
- DOI:
- 10.1029/TE011i003p00125
- Bibcode:
- 1906TeMAE..11..125D