Environmental Radiation Monitoring System (ERMS)

ERMS is a network of automated ambient gamma detectors that take continuous measurements of gamma radiation. This allows ARPANSA to monitor and increase understanding of the variability of background radiation over time and to identify trends or significant changes to the radiological state of the environment.

Measurements from the ERMS network can be viewed in near-real time. Use the dashboard below to select the monitoring location you would like to view. Where rainfall data is available it is also shown as radiation dose can sometimes increase during rainfall events.

View the expanded Environmental Radiation Measurements Australia dashboard view.

About the data:

ERMS detectors measure gamma dose rate and the unit of measurement is the sievert. The data shown here are in µSv/h (microsieverts per hour) and are typically less than 0.2 µSv/h. These are extremely low levels that represent background radiation exposure and do not pose a health risk to people or the environment.
There may be gaps in the data due to maintenance/repairs, telecommunication disruptions, or other technical issues.
Data is not verified in real-time. If the data is later reviewed and found to be inaccurate due to a technical issue it may be excluded from the historic dataset
Data reported in the local time for the device you are using to view the data.

FAQs:

The unit for measuring radiation dose is the Sievert (Sv). 1 microsievert per hour (µSv/h) is a dose rate of 1 millionth of a sievert per hour (1/1,000,000). A typical background gamma dose rate in Australia is less than 0.2 µSv/h , which is a very low level of radiation exposure that has no health impacts for people or the environment.
- Background radiation levels vary between locations depending on factors such as soil type, altitude and latitude. Weather conditions (for example rainfall, dust and changes in atmospheric pressure) can also cause radiation levels to increase or decrease.
- Geoscience Australia maintain a radiometric map of Australia, this map broadly shows how natural radiation varies by location, with sampling being taken from low-flying aircraft. Radiometrics | Geoscience Australia
- Data is reviewed by ARPANSA scientists during office hours. Any abnormal data is flagged for investigation.
- ARPANSA has set an investigation level of 1 µSv/h. This level aligns with the lowest operational intervention level within RPS G-3 (Radiation Protection Series G-3 | ARPANSA).
Data gaps may occur for various reasons, including:
- ERMS detectors occasionally require calibration, maintenance and repair
- telecommunication disruptions that may delay data being sent from the detector to ARPANSA’s network.