Existence of periodicity in radon concentrations and in the large-scale circulation at lower altitudes between 40° and 70° south

Abstract

South of 40S, the proportion of continental areas not covered by water (ocean or antarctic ice sheet) is very small. Thus, the atmospheric concentration of radon measured either in the middle of oceans or at stations on the antarctic continent is the result of the action of all phenomena able to change the large-scale circulation at low altiude. An analysis of the results obtained hour by hour for 2 years in three subantarctic or antarctic stations clearly shows for each of them a 28-day periodicity that cannot be found north of the fortieth parallel. The authors present a first interpretation of this phenomenon.