Project NuClim
LightNews LightNews
banner
nuclim.bsky.social
Project NuClim
@nuclim.bsky.social
42 followers 220 following 54 posts
Nuclear observations to improve Climate research and GHG emission estimates, https://www.nuclim.eu
Posts Replies Media Videos
nuclim.bsky.social
Peak behind the scenes: Evolution of a sketch
Photo of open checkered sketch book with a pen lying across the right page. Across both pages, three sketches are visible. They contain circles, the abbreviations for uranium, radium, radon connected by arrows. The left sketch is already in essentials similar to the one in the final figure. Infographic with the title "Uranium decays to radon, Radon decays to lead". The overall colour theme is blue. Below the two sections of the title a atmosphere-earth cross sections is shown for each. In the left one, arrows in the color of the text "radon" in the title point from the earth to the atmosphere. In a magnified area, individual grains are shown. Within one, is the sequence "U → ... → Ra → Rn" and the same arrows point from the grain to the space between grains. Left from this arrangement, the long sequence "Uranium-238 → Thorium-234 → Protactinium-234 → Uranium-234 → Thorium-230 → Radium-226 → Radon-222" is shown from top to bottom with a radioactive sign next to each arrow. On the right side, "Rn → Po → ... → Pb" is shown in the atmosphere with arrows pointing towards the soil. The same sequence is shown in the grain and it says "Rn → Po" in the space between grains with again arrows pointing towards grain. Right from all that the sequence "Radon-222 → Polonium-218 → Lead-214 → Bismuth-214 → Polonium-214 → Lead-210 → Bismuth-210 → Polonium-210 → Lead-206" is listed, just as on the left side.
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
We'll start a five-part online presentation series about different aspects of our project in January.
The first talk will be on January 14th and then every second week following that.
See the details below, more information will follow soon. Stay tuned!
Announcement of presentation series datates and topics. The title is "Presentation Series" below that the NuClim logo and "online, 15-16 UTC" is placed. The dates are January 14, 2026 "Introduction to NuClim", January 28, 2026 "Radon-based air mass classification", February 11, 2026 "Pollution events, aerosols and clouds", February 25, 2026 "Plankton and greenhouse gases", March 11, 2026 "Combining the project results". In the bottom right corner it says: "More info following soon!"
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
ANSTO also has much a much bigger radon monitor. The one in the front has a source delay volume of 5000 L and is the largest and most sensitive in the world. It is stationed at Cape Grim Baseline Atmospheric Pollution Station. The 1500 L (in the back) looks small in comparison!
Photo: Scott Chambers
Photo of an one-story wooden building. The building is shown diagonally from the side. Next to it along the side we are looking, two big silver metal boxes are placed. The front one is opened and a person is working with both their hands inside the box. It is easly 1.5 m tall with metal metal legs keeping it of the ground. It's length is difficult to estimate from the picture but looks like 3 or 4 m. The one in the front looks about twice as long and 1.5 times as high as the one in the back. The sky is blue with some white clouds developing in the back and the vegetation looks dry.
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
In our case, the thoron delay has a volume of 400 L and the sample delay 1500 L, so it needs some space – but the larger the sample delay volume, the more accurate the detector. You can see what the set up looks like in reality, fully set up and during assembly.
Photos: Scott Chambers, Aimon Tanvir
Photo of a long metallic box, about half a meter high and the same width but much longer. It's placed on a table construction and nearly fills the height of the room as their is a monitor and two barrels placed on top. From the box many cables and tubes go somewhere. Photo of a woman in a yellow jacket and light brown curly hair explaining something next to a metallic box about half her height. In the fron a rack with sme tubing and a machine and some plastic covers of similar size is placed.
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The measurement head contains the detector’s second filter. The air from the radon delay volume enters the measurement head and flows through a very fine mesh filter, which captures the newly formed radon progeny.
Sketch titled "ANSTO radon monitor measurement head". In the middle a bright blue rectangle is labelled "ZnS(Ag) scintillation paper" around it, arrows move from right to left and converge on the left side to go together to the very left. On their way they cross diagonal lines on each side of the rectangle. Those are labelled "2. filter". To the right of the rectangle a smaller area is labelled "photomultiplier tube".
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Once the air reaches the detector, any particle decay products of radon and thoron are removed by the detector’s first filter before the air moves into the main delay volume. This volume has more than three times the volume of the thoron delay volume.
A sketch with the title "ANSTO radon monitor flow loops". It has the first sketch about the concept lightly in the background. On top of it two lines are drawn. The first (labelled "first flow loop" goes from the inlet through the thoron delay into the sample delay and then through the outlet. In both the thoron and sample delay it is broken up while it is solid through the connecting parts. The second line is labelled "second flow loop". It starts in the chaotic left part of the sample delay and goes with slight waves to the right where it turns around and goes through the measurement head back into the chaotic part. It is completely solid.
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The detector maintains a continuous airflow through all its segments at all times. As a first step, before it gets to the main detector, any large particles in the air (e.g. dust, soot or pollen) are removed using a cheap disposable filter, to keep the inside of the pump and detector clean.
Sketch titled "ANSTO radon monitor concept". The colour scheme is blue. On the left side a tube labelled "inlet" leads through a line labelled "coarse filter" into a larger rectangle. This is labelled "thoron delay" and numbered with a big "1" and "removal of ambient aerosols, radon progeny and thoron". In it smaller arrows show chaotically in different directions. From this an arrow leads through another smaller tube through a line labelled "1. filter" into a bigger rectangle labelled "sample delay. In the big rectangle the left side, where the arrow comes in holds chaotic arrows, right from that a line is going vertically through the whole rectangle is labelled "flow homogenizer" after it the arrows are nearly linear and point to the right. There they all move into the middle through a small object labelled "measurement head" and from there directly back into the left (chaotic) part. Another tube labelled "labelled" outlet is at the top of the rectangle. The linear area of the flow has a big "2" and "decay of radon" written next to it. The measurement head a "3 counting of decay of newly formed radon progeny".
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
As mentioned, we are measuring radon in the air at Graciosa and @maceheadccaps.bsky.social. For this, we are using ANSTO two-filter dual flow-loop radon detectors. That might sound complicated - and the details, of course, are - but today, we want to explain the concept.
Photo: Scott Chambers
Photo of the interior of some apparently big metall "box". In the box at the top there is an area with many colorful and labelled cables. It looks a bit like a fuse box and has a sign saying "Warning Isolate before opening". On the bottom there is a big white cylinder with thick tubes going around it and some cables going here and there. In front of it tools lay around: screw driver, voltmeter, cables, tape measure and some unidentifiable metal parts.
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
On the balcony of that apartment, some hours were spent in deep contemplation of important research questions ...

Text/Photo: Scott Chambers
View from a balkony on a harbour with blue waves and some slight waves. The houses on shore are white.
November 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is created by the radioactive decay of radium (Ra) in rocks and soil which itself ultimately originates from uranium (U). Radon decays to polonium (Po) and, in the end, to lead (Pb).
Infographic with the title "Uranium decays to radon, Radon decays to lead". The overall colour theme is blue. Below the two sections of the title a atmosphere-earth cross sections is shown for each. In the left one, arrows in the color of the text "radon" in the title point from the earth to the atmosphere. In a magnified area, individual grains are shown. Within one, is the sequence "U → ... → Ra → Rn" and the same arrows point from the grain to the space between grains. Left from this arrangement, the long sequence "Uranium-238 → Thorium-234 → Protactinium-234 → Uranium-234 → Thorium-230 → Radium-226 → Radon-222" is shown from top to bottom with a radioactive sign next to each arrow. On the right side, "Rn → Po → ... → Pb" is shown in the atmosphere with arrows pointing towards the soil. The same sequence is shown in the grain and it says "Rn → Po" in the space between grains with again arrows pointing towards grain. Right from all that the sequence "Radon-222 → Polonium-218 → Lead-214 → Bismuth-214 → Polonium-214 → Lead-210 → Bismuth-210 → Polonium-210 → Lead-206" is listed, just as on the left side.
November 13, 2025 at 7:59 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Sometimes fieldwork and travel is disturbed by unexpected happenings. When Scott was at Graciosa to set up the radon detector, the airport was shut down for half a day because the President of Portugal visited the island. This caused Scott to stay an additional night.

Photo: Scott Chambers
Grey airplane on an airfield with slightly hilly landscape and lightly cloudy hill. On the airplane it says "70501 Bisontes".
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The UAc team carried out the seasonal water sampling in the bay of Calheta, Santa Cruz do Graciosa, taking samples at different distances from the shore to see how conditions change.

Text/Photo: Paula Eisnecker/Inês de Castro
Photo of a windy coastline with houses along the coast and waves breaking on some rocky shore. In the foreground a white wall with one step goes diagonally across the photo. On this, a range of bags, tubes and penshaped sensors and other unidentifiable things are placed. One woman is sitting in front of it at seems to take some notes.
November 5, 2025 at 8:35 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The UAc team arrived on Graciosa in the morning with all sampling and laboratory equipment and proceeded directly to the ENA station. There, a potential new collaborative experiment with Dr. Xuemeng Chen (@helsinki.fi) was discussed.

Text/Photo: Paula Eisnecker/Inês de Castro
Photo of a woman with a suitcase trolley smilling into the camera. The trolley is laden with a wooden box, a thermo box and several bags. In the background some modern architectural roof and blue sky are visible. Photo of a compley arrangement of tubes and cables connecting several boxes. On the top of one box a monitor, keyboard and mouse are placed. In the right side of the photo, half a laptop is visible.
November 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Two weeks ago, our colleagues from Terceira (University of the Azores, UAc) were getting ready for their second trip to Graciosa Island! The team led by Joana Barcelos e Ramos do seasonal sampling of the marine community and carbonate system.

Text/Photo: Paula Eisnecker/Inês de Castro
Photo of a woman and a man are looking inside a wooden box where they are sorting boxes with gloves, tubes, bottles, tissues and bags.
November 3, 2025 at 8:44 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
We've already installed a number of instruments, for example an ANSTO 1500 L radon monitor just as at @maceheadccaps.bsky.social .
In addition, we are currently in the process of preparing gamma spectrometers for shipment.

Photo: Scott Chambers
Photo of a long metallic box, about half a meter high and the same width but much longer. It's placed on a table construction and nearly fills the height of the room as their is a monitor and two barrels placed on top. From the box many cables and tubes go somewhere.
October 29, 2025 at 11:31 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
In addition to the measurements at Mace Head, we are also measuring at the ENA station on Graciosa island (Azores, Portugal). It's the Eastern North Atlantic (hence ENA) atmospheric research station established by Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility.

Photo: Scott Chambers
Photo of a row of white containers, view on the front side of the containers with a slight angle to look done the line. The containers have doors. Between and on top of the containers some masts and white structures are installed.
October 29, 2025 at 11:31 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
Some more pictures from the installation of the ANSTO 1500L Radon Monitor at @maceheadccaps.bsky.social. We look forward to finalising the set up and getting it fully operational.

Photos by Aimon Tanvir @aimontanvir.bsky.social
Photo of an open transporter with a big metallic box and a smaller blue plastic box on top in it. In the fronts some blankets and gloves are places and behind the box some blue barrel is barely visible. Photo of a woman in a yellow jacket and light brown curly hair explaining something next to a metallic box about half her height. In the fron a rack with sme tubing and a machine and some plastic covers of similar size is placed.
October 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
We’re excited for this next step in strengthening Mace Head’s contribution to global
atmospheric science, stay tuned for more updates!
Photo of a group of five people standing behind a long metall box about half the height of the people. The people seem to be discussing something with one woman pointing towards the direction of the camera. In the background the sea and a stony shore is visible. On the horizon the grey of the sea and sky are merging.
October 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
We’re happy to announce that the radon monitor upgrade arrived last week at @maceheadccaps.bsky.social.
This marks an exciting milestone in our efforts to characterize background air masses and improve understanding of greenhouse gas sources and transport.

Text/Photo: Aimon Tanvir
Photo of a grey, cloudy sky above brown-green and stony landscape. In the front of the picture, two blue boxes, a backpack, two blue barrels and other unidentifiable objects are placed. Photo of the inside of some big metal box with many cables, tubes and a little rack on the right side. In the lower left corner a grey big barrel is labelled "Filter". The whole box is wrapped in some purple-red plastic cover and sits on transport pallet.
October 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The Atmospheric Research Station at Mace Head @maceheadccaps.bsky.social ist located on the west coast of Ireland (Carna, County Galway). It offers a unique exposure to westerly winds coming from the North Atlantic Ocean into Europe.

Text/photo: Aimon Tanvir
Photo of two small buildings on a green, stony field with blue sky and some scattered clouds. The huts are surrounded by a green metallic fence. Between the two huts a white container is placed and on top and next to them a number of antennas are visible.
October 20, 2025 at 9:18 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
A scientist’s best friend when setting up equipment for field measurements is the coffee machine ...

Photo: Scott Chambers
Photo of a white and black coffee machine on a beige counter. The machine is very round overall with a circular cut-out to place the cup and an apparently half-cylinder shape for the main body.
October 16, 2025 at 8:03 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
How does radon tell us about how air moves and mixes?
And what is the goal of our project?
The figure is a two-part drawing. The main colors are different shades of blue and a dark orange. The top part is titled "Radon originates from land". In it many arrows are moving from left to right. They have the same color dark orange color as "radon" in the title. They are on top of symbols for wind. Some arrows end, some start but overall the number at each horizontal position remains the same. On the bottom, arrows seem to originate from a dark blue rectangle in the same color as "land" in the title. In addition, on it are placed little icons showing an industrial facility. On the right side of the figure, a location marker is set into the air. In it, a a scale indicates a high value and it says "radon" below the scale. The bottom part is titled "Radon disappears over sea". The overall layout of the second part is very similar to the first. However, the right two thirds of the bottom do not have the rectangle but waves in a lighter blue (the same color as "sea" in the title). From it only very few and small arrows originate. The arrows in the air are similar to the previous ones on the left side, on the right side however, there are fewer arrows beginning, so the overall number of arrows decreases. The scale in the location marker shows a low value.
October 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
At Graciosa, the daily commute on foot to the ARM station always included extra time to pat the goats and donkey.

Photos: Scott Chambers
Photo of a donkey amidst dry grass and brown earth. The donkey seems to be walking and looks into the camera. In the background some green shrubs and the sea are visible. The sky is blue with some scattered clouds. Photo of two white goats between grass and shrubs. The goats stand behind each other. The goat further away looks directly into the camera, the other one to its right side.
October 8, 2025 at 8:12 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
The first measurements are running and more will follow soon!
NuClim aims to determine the baseline of greenhouse gas concentrations in the North Atlantic. We look at radon, greenhouse gases and a range of other parameters at the ENA observatory (Azores) and @maceheadccaps.bsky.social (Ireland).
A map in shades of blue showing the North Eastern Atlantic with light arrows mostly from south west to north east and highlighting the Graciosa Island in the Azores and Mace Head in Ireland. A big cloud in the top left corner, containing the text "measurements of air masses without human influence". Around the text, icons for pressure, methane, gamma radiation, wind, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, eddies, ozone, rain, radon and temperature are arranged. The cloud is connected to the two measurement stations by a kind of flow-y triangle. In the top left corner the project's logo and two hands holding an earth and radiation sign in grey are placed. In the bottom right corner small text says: "Wind data from E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (DOI: 10.48670/moi-00181), map data from Natural Earth".
September 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
nuclim.bsky.social
@inesctec.bsky.social is using the world’s most sensitive detector, the 1500 L ANSTO radon monitor, with a detection limit as low as 0.025 Bq·m⁻³, to collect high-precision radon observations, pushing the boundaries of atmospheric research and extending applications of nuclear measurements.
September 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM