Precipitation correction of airborne gamma-ray spectrometry data using monitoring profiles: methodology and case study
Andreas Ahl 1 2 Klaus Motschka 1 Peter Slapansky 11 Geological Survey of Austria, Neulinggasse 38, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
2 Corresponding author. Email: andreas.ahl@geologie.ac.at
Exploration Geophysics 45(1) 8-15 https://doi.org/10.1071/EG12075
Submitted: 26 November 2012 Accepted: 24 June 2013 Published: 1 August 2013
Abstract
Variations of soil moisture content caused by precipitation often complicate the interpretation of airborne gamma-ray spectrometry data. This is particularly the case in repeated surveys designed to monitor the change of near surface abundances of radioactive elements or in large and time-consuming surveys.
To counter this precipitation effect we propose a correction method based on repeated survey flights over a monitoring profile. Assuming that the weather and the soil conditions at the monitoring profile are representative for the survey area, the weather dependent effect of soil moisture can be observed and sufficiently corrected.
Key words: airborne geophysics, gamma-ray spectrometry, monitoring profile, precipitation correction.
References
Ahl, A., and Bieber, G., 2010, Correction of the attenuation effect of vegetation on airborne gamma-ray spectrometry data using laser altimeter data: Near Surface Geopyhsics, 8, 271–278Aspin, S. J., and Bierwirth, P. N., 1997, GIS analysis of the effects of forest biomass on gamma-radiometric images: Proceedings of the 3rd National Forum on GIS in the Geosciences, AGSO record 1997/36, 77–83.
Grasty, R. L., 1979, Gamma-ray spectrometric methods in uranium exploration – theory and operational procedures, in Geophysics and geochemistry in the search for metallic ores: Geological Survey of Canada, Economic Geology Report 31, Paper 10B.
Grasty, R. L., 1997, The effect of soil moisture on airborne gamma ray measurements: SEG Expanded Abstracts, 16, 430–433
Grasty, R. L., and Minty, B. R. S., 1995, A guide to the technical specifications for airborne gamma−ray surveys: Australian Geological Survey Organisation Record 1995/60.
Häusler, H., 2010, Explanatory notes for the geological map 78 Rust (including contributions from Figdor, H., Hammerl, Ch, Kohlbeck, F., Lenhardt, W., and Schuster, R.). 192 pages, 65 figures, 5 charts, 2 tables, Vienna [in German].
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 2003, Guidelines for radioelement mapping using gamma ray spectrometry data: IAEA-TECDOC-1363.
Minty, B. R. S., 1997, The fundamentals of airborne gamma-ray spectrometry: AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 17, 39–50
| 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXit12lur0%3D&md5=a94c320da3f40c125e473a99dcdf1db2CAS |
Minty, B. R. S., Luyendyk, A. P. J., and Brodie, R. C., 1997, Calibration and data processing for airborne gamma-ray spectrometry: AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 17, 51–62
Pahr, A., and Herrmann, P., 2000, Geologic-tectonic summary, in H. P. Schönlaub, ed., Burgenland - explanatory notes for the geological map of Burgenland 1 : 200 000: Geological Survey of Austria, 10–11 [in German].
Pascher, G., Herrmann, P., Mandl, G. W., Matura, A., Nowotny, A., Pahr, A., and Schnabel, W., 1999, Geological map of Burgenland 1 : 200 000: Geological Survey of Austria [in German].
Pereira, E. B., and Nordemann, D. J. R., 1983, Effects of a tropical rain forest cover on airborne gamma-ray spectrometry: Revista Brasileira de Geofísica, 1, 99–108
Rubin, R. M., Price, J. H., and Wells, M. B., 1979, Effects of vegetation on the energy and angular distributions of uranium daughter gamma rays at an altitude of 121.9 meters: Technical Report GJBX-55(80), Radiation Research Associates, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (USA).
Schönhofer, F., Ecker, W., Hojesky, H., Junger, W., Kienzl, K., Nowak, H., Riss, A., Vychytil, P., and Zechner, J., 1986, Chernobyl and its consequences for Austria: Federal Environmental Agency, Vienna, 11/1986, monograph, volume 001 (ISBN: 3–85457–061–9, 216 S) [in German].
Schwarz, G. F., Rybach, L., and Klingele, E. E., 1997, Design, calibration, and application of an airborne gamma spectrometer system in Switzerland: Geophysics, 62, 1369–1378
| Design, calibration, and application of an airborne gamma spectrometer system in Switzerland:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woods, F.W., Hough, W.A., O’Neal, D., and Barnett, J., 1965, Gamma ray attenuation by Loblolly pine wood: an investigation of integral counting: Forest Science, 11, 341–345
Zorn, I., 2000, The Paleogene and Neogene, in H. P. Schönlaub, ed., Burgenland - explanatory notes for the geological map of Burgenland 1 : 200 000: Geological Survey of Austria, 15–28 [in German].