Radon and tilt measurements in a seismic area: Temperature effects

Since 1977 five tilt-strainmeter stations have been installed in the Friuli seismic area for the detection of tectonic deformations and pre co and post-seismic effects. In 1994 a station for Radon concentration measurements was installed with the aim to detect possible precursors. The noise effect due to rainfalls and atmospheric pressure variations was already stressed in previous papers. In this work the effect of temperature on both tilt measurements and Radon emanation is examined. A significant correlation between tilt and temperature is present on the annual behaviour, mainly due to thermoelastic effects although annual water table level variations can greatly influence the done results. On shorter periods (10-20 days) significant correlations also exist. Regarding the Radon measurements, an interpretative model has been reported. It relates the variation of the correlation coefficient sign with the temperature. Indeed Radon and temperature are positively correlated in winter and inversely correlated during the summer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.