RainRad

1
RainRad

• Explorations of Rain Precipitation Rate and How
  it relates to
• Environmental Radiation

2
Introduction

• The Story
• Radiation and Natural Phenomenon
• The Experiment
• The Data
• !PROBLEMS!
• Possible Further Experimentation
• The Scientific Process

3
The Story

• International Christian University
• Mitaka, Japan
• Dr. Mark Greenfield and his students

4
Radiation and Natural Phenomenon

• The Sun Cycle
• Daily variation of radiation data found to exist
  that correlated with the rising and setting of
  the sun.
• Maximum at Sunrise

5
Radiation and Natural Phenomenon

• The Seasons
• A seasonal change in radiation levels
• Maximum in mid-February

6
Radiation and Natural Phenomenon

• Precipitation
• Primary Goal of FSU Experiment
• It is known that the greater the precipitation
  rate the greater the radiation levels
• Both rain and snow precipitation affect radiation
  levels

7
The Experiment

• Exploration of Rainfall and Radiation
• Set up NaI detector on the roof of the Nuclear
  Research Building
• Gathered Rainfall Information from a gauge on the
  Keen Building
• Data Gathered from February to August 2003

8
The Data
9
The Data
10
!PROBLEMS!

• Early Problems
• Possible Improper Background Subtraction
• Possibly due to diurnal and seasonal variations
  in radiation levels
• Unusual Decay
• Possible correlation with lightning
• Erratic Radiation Data
• At times the radiation data changes with no
  noticeable rainfall event

11
!PROBLEMS! Improper background subtraction
12
!PROBLEMS! Unusual Decay
13
!PROBLEMS! Erratic Radiation Data
14
Possible Further Experimentation

• More Experimentation is Needed
• Geographically diversify rain gauges and take
  radiation data from a single, centralized source
• If money permits, place a radiation detector at
  each or several of the rain gauge sites

15
Possible Further Experimentation
16
The Scientific Process