This research project aims to quantify the non-linear dynamics in indoor and outdoor radon concentration levels in seismically active areas. It will measure radon concentrations and associated meteorological parameters both indoors and outdoors over a period of at least one year. Computational techniques will be used to analyze the non-linear behavior of radon concentrations, and statistical analyses will develop correlations between meteorological factors and radon levels. The goal is to develop empirical relationships between radon concentrations, earthquakes in the region, and meteorological parameters to determine if radon can help predict seismic activity.

1. Proposed PhD Research Project
1. Project Title:
Quantification of Non-Linear Dynamics in Indoor and Outdoor Radon Concentration Levels
in Seismically Activated Areas.
2. State of the art:
Whenever an area on our planet is seismically activated either by a volcanic eruption or by
an earthquake, as an immediate result, pores and cracks are formed on the surface of the
earth surrounding the affected area. Since vast Uranium deposits lie deep beneath the earth
surface, so the radiations (decay products of Uranium chain) starts to exhale out of the
pores and cracks. Among those are the two of the noble gases; Radon (Rn-222) and Thoron
(Th-220), they are a good source of information about the impact of seismic activity on the
beneath uranium deposit strengths. Interesting thing is that, there is a notable change in the
values of radon/thoron after the earthquake has occurred. By taking out help from this
unique property, a research study can be planned.
3. Project rationale:
This research project has practical implications in many ways;
i. If the empirical relationship between the radon concentrations and corresponding
reported earthquakes is developed, then, to a limited extent, an earthquake could be
predicted.
ii. If the empirical relationship is developed between the associated meteorological
parameters and the radon values, the radon values pattern can be predicted for a
whole day (12-hours) and a whole night (12-hours).
4. Project description:
In this project, we will measure the radon (Rn-222) concentrations both in indoor as well
as in outdoor environments in the area that is seismically active and will quantify the Non-
Linear Dynamics (i.e. Chaos) of the concentrations. The non-linear behavior in the
measured values of the indoor and outdoor radon will be analyzed by using several
computational techniques such as Sample Entropy, Lyapunov Exponent, Shannon Entropy,
Hurst Exponent etc. Along with the measurements of radon concentrations, the associated
meteorological parameters (air temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity etc.)
will also be monitored. The correlation between different metrological parameters and
radon concentrations will be developed by using statistical techniques like Pearson’s
Correlation, One-way/Two-way ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA).

2. An empirical relation will be developed between the measured indoor/outdoor Rn-222
concentrations and associated meteorological parameters. Proceeding further on the same
lines, by collecting the seismic data of earthquakes reported in the project area three months
before and after the project running time, we could developed a relationship linking the
variations in radon values with the prediction of earthquakes in the area.
5. Working program:
In order to develop a core relation between the radon anomalies and the probability of
happening of an earthquake in the region, we will need a large number of radon
concentration measurement values (i.e. data points). It will be in accordance with the
compliance of our project that radon concentrations would have to be measured for a
maximum of one-year period. It will approximately take 3-4 months in developing the
computational techniques in the form of either Fortran or C++ codes and analyzing the
radon values by both computational techniques and statistical methods.
6. References:
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Society of Civil Engineers 116: 770.
Hurst, H.E.; Black, R.P.; Simaika, Y.M. (1965). Long-term storage: an experimental study.
London: Constable.
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Mandelbrot, Benoît B. "The (Mis)Behavior of Markets": 187.
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Exponents for smooth dynamical systems and for hamiltonian systems; A method for
computing all of them. Part 2: Numerical application". Meccanica 15:
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Karl Pearson (20 June 1895) "Notes on regression and inheritance in the case of two
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3. The Correlation Between Relatives on the Supposition of Mendelian Inheritance. Ronald A.
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A. Fisher. Metron, 1: 3-32 (1921)