Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3475
Influence of solar activity on ambient dose equivalent H*(10) measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters in Slovenia
Benjamin Zorko
orcid.org/0000-0003-0164-4716
; Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Matjaž Korun
; Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Boštjan Črnič
; Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Branko Vodenik
; Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sandi Gobec
; Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Ambient dose equivalent H*(10) is measured to assess general population exposure to ionising radiation. From its spatial and time variations it is possible to identify sources of exposure. In Slovenia, semi-annual H*(10) is measured routinely with thermoluminescence dosimeters at 66 locations around the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Krško and at 50 other locations covering the rest of Slovenian territory. Since the Chernobyl accident contamination had ceased to contribute to ambient dose equivalents, we have been calculating correlation coefficients between annual mean number of sunspots and annual H*(10). These correlation coefficients were calculated for five locations in western Slovenia and for five annual H*(10) extracted from measurements around NPP Krško. Their ranges between –0.64 and –0.38 suggest a clear negative correlation between solar activity and H*(10). Mean annual H*(10) averted by solar activity in the past two solar maxima reached 0.070 mSv around NPP Krško (155 m.a.s.l.) and 0.132 mSv and 0.180 mSv at Kredarica (2515 m.a.s.l.). Quantifying the influence of the solar activity on the ambient dose equivalent helps us to better understand exposure of the general population to ionising radiation.
Keywords
averted ambient dose equivalent; Chernobyl contamination; correlation coefficient; cosmic rays; soil radioactivity; solar cycle
Hrčak ID:
253759
URI
Publication date:
16.3.2021.
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