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2014/12/20 at 3:03 pm
Big swings in day average background levels here this month. Already in first level alert for a few days.
Station Location
http://sccc.org.au/monitoring/Australian-Map.jpg
December 2014 day average chart,
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Caloundra-local-average-background-radiation-levels-December-2014.jpg
Day averages have reached our first alert level here in early December 2014. The alert code system here, is not based on any official government alert system. It is one set up by the station operator, to indicate significant local background increases.
What the monitoring station alert codes mean.
http://sccc.org.au/what-does-each-step-in-the-alert-level-colour-code-mean
2014/12/09 at 7:18 pm
Southern Hemisphere November 2014 rain water test results.
Station location
http://sccc.org.au/monitoring/Australian-Map.jpg
This short animation of Northern, and Southern Hemisphere air circulation,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh011eAYjAA
Summary:
Traces of Lead Pb-210 and Beryllium Be-7 were detected in the rain water. The rain fall for the month was very low at 5.2 mm.
This is only a test of the polyester part of the rain water filter system design. Tested both the charcoal and polyester components and there was not much difference in the isotope signatures captured. There was a slight difference in amounts detected in each filter type.
Roof down pipe filter design for rainwater testing.
http://sccc.org.au/down-pipe-filter-design
Test Chart (The chart is minus background.)
In this chart I have CPS on the Y axis to show activity, and have turned off Y log to show linear scaling. It is on a scale at less than one decay detection every 1000+ seconds, near the bottom of the chart.
Chart link:
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Down-pipe-Caloundra-November-polyester-filter-test-031214-TV63-22c-85096-B.jpg
2014/12/02 at 4:50 pm
Southern Hemisphere November 2014, and Background Radiation Report.
Station location
http://sccc.org.au/monitoring/Australian-Map.jpg
This short animation of Northern, and Southern Hemisphere air circulation, shows why we can get detections so far south.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh011eAYjAA
Summary
November 2014 monthly average background radiation level was 29% above the pre-Fukushima average. The November average for 2012 was 31% above and 2013 was 30% above the pre-Fukushima average.
Technical details:
(Note: The 4yr average referred to in the charts, is the 4yr pre-Fukushima average.)
Day average chart for November 2014 (29% above average)
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Caloundra-local-average-background-radiation-levels-November-2014.jpg
2012 Day Average chart (31% above average)
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Caloundra-local-average-background-radiation-levels-November-20121.jpg
2013 Day Average chart (30% above average)
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Caloundra-local-average-background-radiation-levels-November-2013.jpg
2014 Month Average chart
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Caloundra-monthly-average-background-radiation-levels-for-2014.jpg
UV radiation reached extreme levels here for most of November 2014.
Why you should now also monitor local UV levels in spring and Summer in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
http://www.sccc.org.au/extreme-uv-levels-in-summer
Disclaimer: This is an amateur volunteer run service. Human error can provide incorrect information, and equipment malfunction can produce false readings. Do not rely on, or take action upon information presented here, without further research.
2014/11/09 at 11:10 pm
Food Testing Report
Reports that the political parties in America were testing their food, while informing the public that it was not necessary.
5th November 2014 – Emergency radiation testing used at Democrat and Republican conventions after Fukushima; Also for Obama Inauguration — Seafood, meat, vegetables, milk, water checked for nuclear waste, while top officials agree to publicly downplay crisis — 80% of milk samples from Orlando, FL had ‘significant’ Cs-137
Southern Hemisphere October 2014 UV, and Background Radiation Report.
Station location
http://sccc.org.au/monitoring/Australian-Map.jpg
This short animation of Northern, and Southern Hemisphere air circulation, shows why we can get detections so far south.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh011eAYjAA
Summary
The good news is that the air borne contamination reaching this location, appears to have stabilized for the time being.
October’s 2014 monthly average background radiation level was the lowest October monthly average since pre-Fukushima, at 14% above the pre-Fukushima October average. 2012 was 19% above and 2013 was 25% above the pre-Fukushima average. 2012 had the most dynamic swings in background levels. Over the last few months we have been getting a lot of low pressure systems develop between Australia and new Zealand, pumping cleaner Southern Ocean air up along our east coast. In previous years at this time of the year, the air flows here came mainly from the tropics.
Technical details:
(Note: The 4yr average referred to in the charts, is the 4yr pre-Fukushima average.)
Day average chart for October 2014 (14% above average)
2013 Day Average chart (25% above average)
2012 Day Average chart (19% above average)
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Caloundra-local-average-background-radiation-levels-October-20121.jpg
2014 Month Average chart
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Caloundra-monthly-average-background-radiation-levels-for-2014.jpg
October 2014 Rain Water Test Report
Summary:
Traces of Lead Pb-210 and Beryllium Be-7 were detected in the rain water. This is surprising since the rain fall was only 30mm in October.
The Be-7 peak should be at 477 Kev. The Be-7peak in this test chart with calibration is slightly to the left of the ideal at around 470 Kev. This suggests the presence of another unidentified isotope. At these trace levels their peaks are too close for this equipment to separate the peaks enough to identify the other isotope. A second test was done a couple days later. Whatever was present had decayed away, and the Be-7 peak was where it should be in the chart.
So far we have not been able to qualify what the possible isotope maybe.
Roof down pipe filter design for rainwater testing, http://sccc.org.au/down-pipe-filter-design
Test Chart
In this chart I have CPS on the Y axis to show activity, and have turned off Y log to show linear scaling.
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Down-pipe-Caloundra-November-filter-test-021114-TV63-22c-84600-text-1024×846.jpg
Previous Rain water and soil tests can be found here.
http://sccc.org.au/pages/The-Food-Lab.html#Soil%20Testing%20Results
UV Report
Keep and eye on Northern and Southern Hemisphere UV levels in spring and summer. Here, we are already into extreme UV levels. During these events it is important to put in place protective UV Radiation measures.
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Caloundra-UV-levels-4th-7th-November-2014.jpg
New Live Radon Monitoring System
Have recently set up an experimental live Radon monitoring system here.
This live Radon monitor has been set up to establish if Radon, or other Alpha emitting radioactive isotopes are significantly affecting local background radiation levels, at the Caloundra monitoring station location.
It is set up in a room in a wooden building on stumps, near the Pacific Ocean, so Radon levels should be low. Anything above 4 pCi/l for an extended period of time would be of concern.
Significant Radon increases have been detected when storms have passed over the area. Also, significant increases have been detected on clear fine days. Still assessing what it all means.
http://sccc.org.au/monitoring/sunshinecoast-monitoring-station.html
Technical Details of Live Radon monitor.
Caloundra Central 24 hour Radon Level Chart, (Live Chart)
http://liveradiationmonitoring.org/monitoringCAradon/PLOT_LOG.PNG
Information on Radon levels, and why it is of concern.
http://sccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Radon_Info_ENG.pdf
Equipment used to set up the Caloundra live monitoring Radon station.
http://www.theremino.com/en/hardware/inputs/radioactivity-sensors/
Peter
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Disclaimer: This is an amateur volunteer run service. Human error can provide incorrect information, and equipment malfunction can produce false readings. Do not rely on, or take action upon information presented here, without further research.
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