Natural gamma radiation at the sea level around the Antarctic continent recorded south of the 62° parallel

Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka; Marcin Krystek; Mariusz Koper; Tomasz Grala; Hanna Leniec-Koper; Michał Barasiński; Magdalena Talar; Ireneusz Kamiński; Robert Kibart; Wojciech Małecki; Piotr Kukliński

doi:10.18778/1427-9711.20.01

Authors

Magdalena Długosz-Lisiecka Lodz University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1358-049X
Marcin Krystek Geological Museum, University of Lodz https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1150-0062
Mariusz Koper Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Tomasz Grala Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Hanna Leniec-Koper Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Michał Barasiński Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Magdalena Talar Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Ireneusz Kamiński Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Robert Kibart Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Wojciech Małecki Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean
Piotr Kukliński Member of the Katharsis II team, World Ocean; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1507-215X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1427-9711.20.01

Keywords:

Antarctic continent, sea level, dose rate monitoring, cosmic radiation, hazards of ionizing radiation

Abstract

This study presents the results of dosimetry radiation measurement performed in the Antarctic region at the surface of the sea which was conducted between January and March 2018. Over 2 200 records were collected using a portable Gamma Scout Online radiometer during a 72-day voyage circumnavigating the continent of Antarctica. The mean average of the measured radiation dose rate was 0.091 μSvh-1 and varied from 0.052 to 0.193 μSvh-1. These result are above global average dose rate of radiation at sea level (0.031 μSvh-1) and often higher than those recorded on the Antarctic continent. Yet generally our records fall within well recognized latitudinal trend of radiation being higher toward poles. This is results of troposphere begins at lower altitude in Antarctic in comparison to lower latitudes. The origin of this radiation is natural and results from the presence of higher cosmic rays and secondary radiation induced in the atmosphere. The presence of terrestrial radionuclides in the Antarctic environment has a local, secondary influence on the measured values of radiation. The theoretical calculated annual dose equivalent for humans present in Antarctica could often exceed the limit of 1 mSv as recorded for other Antarctic locations yet our results (0.772 mSv per year) do not confirm that.

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