Continuous Radon measurements at High altitude Physics Observatory, Gulmarg, Kashmir valley,J&K.

The data set include 7-day continuous measurement (daily as well as diurnal) of radon-222 gas at 1-hour resolution collected at a high-altitude Physics Observatory at Gulmarg which is situated roughly 55 Km from Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu & Kashmir and lies in the Pir Panjals range of the Himalayas. The longitude and latitude of Gulmarg are 74◦24’E and 34◦03’N with a mean altitude of 2743.2 m. The data was obtained using a scintillation detector (RnDuo Monitor), developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India. The first column (Column A), shows time (in hours) where cell A3 represents 1:00 am, A4 represents 2:00 am and so on. Columns B-H show daily Radon variation while as rows B-H shows the hourly variation of radon measured in Becquerel per cubic metre. Column I shows the average values. Value of the Data: • The Gulmarg High Altitude observatory primarily records meteorological parameters. However, the observatory is also equipped with many other scientific instruments to detect and record various other parameters like particulate matter, atmospheric electricity, seismic activities etc. However, as of now, no data about radon gas is available, the knowledge of which can be instrumental to other researchers working at the observatory. • Radon gas is a known carcinogen (Samet and Eradze, 2000). In fact, it is the first cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and second among smokers (Darby et al., 2005; World Health Organization, 2010). Therefore, the data pertaining to radon concentration, are vital from the epidemiological perspective. • The observatory was recently equipped with an Electric Field Mill (EFM) to measure atmospheric electricity, which is known to be influenced by Radon gas (Chandrashekara et al., 2006; García-Talavera et al., 2001). The data set for radon concentration will definitely serve as a yardstick for this and other such research works.本数据集包含在古尔马格高海拔物理观测台采集的氡-222（radon-222）连续7天监测数据，时间分辨率为1小时，覆盖日间与昼夜变化。该观测台位于印度查谟和克什米尔邦首府斯利那加以西约55公里处，地处喜马拉雅山脉皮尔潘杰尔（Pir Panjals）山区，经纬度为东经74°24′、北纬34°03′，平均海拔2743.2米。 本数据集采用印度孟买巴巴原子研究中心（Bhabha Atomic Research Centre）研发的闪烁探测器（scintillation detector，RnDuo Monitor）采集。数据表格首列（A列）为时间（以小时计），其中A3单元格对应凌晨1:00，A4对应凌晨2:00，依此类推。B至H列展示氡浓度的日变化特征，B至H行则展示以贝可每立方米（Becquerel per cubic metre，简写Bq/m³）为单位的氡小时浓度变化；I列展示日均氡浓度。 数据集价值： • 古尔马格高海拔观测台主要开展气象参数监测，同时配备了多款科学仪器，可检测并记录颗粒物、大气电学、地震活动等多类环境参数。但截至目前，该观测台尚无公开的氡气监测数据，本数据集将为在此开展研究的科研人员提供宝贵的参考资料。 • 氡气是公认的致癌物（Samet和Eradze，2000），事实上，它是非吸烟者肺癌的首要致病因素，也是吸烟者肺癌的第二大致病因素（Darby等，2005；世界卫生组织，2010）。因此，氡浓度监测数据在流行病学研究中具有重要价值。 • 该观测台近期新增了电场磨（Electric Field Mill, EFM）设备以开展大气电学监测，而已有研究表明大气电学参数会受到氡气的影响（Chandrashekara等，2006；García-Talavera等，2001）。本氡浓度数据集将为该类及相关研究工作提供可靠的参照标准。