Radon activity in the southern Lagoon of Venice and the Adriatic Sea

The authors have investigated the possibility that groundwater sources exist in the Lagoon of Venice, either in the form of localized springs or diffuse seepages. The quantification of the groundwater discharge fluxes by means of classical hydrological methods is difficult due to the dispersive character of the groundwater seepage. A volume-integrated estimate is however possible using appropriate natural tracers such as radon.