Field evaluation of the effects of water table fluctuations on soil radon gas emanations

Measurements of the depth of the water table and the concentration of soil gas radon at water wells in Virginia and Maryland show that at each well site, there is no correlation between the depths of the water table and the radon concentration. However, when comparing nearby water wells, there is a relationship between depth of the water table and the concentration of soil gas radon. Wells with a shallower water table tend to have less soil gas radon emanation. It may be that this relationship It may be that this relationship (higher water table with lower radon emanation) may explain seasonal changes in radon concentration, since changes in water table depth are caused by seasonal changes in precipitation.