The Role of Atmospheric Conditions in CO2 and Radon Emissions from an Abandoned Water Well

Elad Levintal, Hovav Zafrir, Maria I. Dragila, Noam Weisbrod

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Boreholes and wells are complex boundaries at the Earth-atmosphere interface connecting the hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere from below and the atmosphere from above. Understanding and quantifying the air exchange rate at these geometries and subsequently their potential role as a source for greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions to the atmosphere is important. Here, we investigate the effect of atmospheric conditions, namely atmospheric pressure and temperature, on air, CO2 and radon transport inside a 110-m deep and 0.5-m wide borehole. Temperature, relative humidity, CO2 and radon (alpha detector) sensors were placed along a cased borehole in northern Israel, and a standard meteorological station was located nearby. All borehole data were logged at high0.5-min resolution for nine months. Results show that climatic driving forces initiated advective air transport mechanisms that had a similar effect on the CO2 and radon trends within the borehole. Diurnal atmospheric pressure oscillations controlled the daily air transport(barometric pumping) whereas borehole-atmospheric temperature differences were important on the seasonal scale (thermal-induced convection). In addition, air velocities inside the borehole and CO2emissions to the atmosphere were quantified, fluctuating from 0 and up to 6 m/min and 5 g-CO2/min. respectively. This reveals the role of boreholes as an additional source for GHG emissions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 21st EGU General Assembly
StatePublished - 7 Apr 2019
Event
EGU General Assembly 2019
- Austria Center Vienna Bruno-Kreisky-Platz 1 1220 Vienna Austria, Vienna, Austria
Duration: 7 Apr 201912 Apr 2019
https://www.egu2019.eu/

Conference

Conference
EGU General Assembly 2019
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVienna
Period7/04/1912/04/19
Internet address

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