https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02399-4
Regular Article
Analysis of long-term measurements of 222Rn and CO2 soil fluxes: implications for the use of radon as a tracer of CO2 emissions
Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská Dolina, 842 48, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Received:
30
August
2025
Accepted:
18
May
2026
Published online:
2
June
2026
Abstract
This study analyzes 4 years of continuous measurements of soil-to-atmosphere fluxes of CO2 and 222Rn, focusing on their concentrations in soil and atmosphere as well as exhalation rates. The relationships among Rn flux, CO2 flux, and various environmental factors were studied. Measurements were conducted at a single site to minimize the influence of soil properties and concentrate only on meteorological effects. Statistical and machine learning techniques were applied to evaluate the relationships between meteorological variables and CO2 and 222Rn fluxes. The results provide insights into the complex relationships between radon flux, CO2 flux, and their influencing factors, contributing to a better understanding of the application of radon-based methods (radon tracer and radon calibrated method), as well as their limitations. The study shows that while radon flux is relatively stable and weakly influenced by environmental conditions, CO2 flux exhibits strong daily and seasonal variability, tightly controlled by soil temperature, moisture, and biological activity.
© The Author(s) 2026
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