Vertical distribution of gamma background in the atmosphere over Western Siberia and adjacent territories
P.N. Antokhin, V.G. Arshinova, M.Yu. Arshinov, B.D. Belan, S.B. Belan, D.K. Davydov, N.V. Dudorova, G.A. Ivlev, A.V. Kozlov, G.A. Kolotkov, T.M. Rasskazchikova, D.E. Savkin, D.V. Simonenkov, T.K. Sklyadneva, G.N. Tolmachev, A.V. Fofonov
V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: atmosphere, aerosol, vertical distribution, gases, gamma background, composition
Abstract
Natural gamma radiation easily penetrates into the cells of a human body and destructively affects all structures causing a wide range of diseases. It also plays an active role in the atmosphere by participating in electrical processes and origination of ions, which affects cloud formation, precipitation, radiation balance, etc. There are very few measurements of the vertical distribution of gamma background over the Russian territory. This paper summarizes the results of aircraft sounding in 2003-2025. Based on the analysis of the long-term data, an average vertical profile of this parameter was calculated, which shows its nonlinear increase with altitude. In the surface air layer, this parameter varied within 0.03-0.25 mSv/h with the average over the period under study being 0.11 mSv/h. At an altitude of 10 km, the gamma background varied in the range 2.18-2.80 mSv/h, and the average was 2.35 mSv/h. The analysis of the latitudinal distribution revealed the belt 60-70° N with high gamma radiation values; the gamma background was lower to the south and north of that belt The data analysis has also revealed a weak annual variation with a maximum in November and a minimum in August, which is not typical for other atmospheric parameters. The results can be useful for choosing the range and uncertainty of developed radiation protection devices and means, as well as for assessing the probability of origination of radiative effects.
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