Spread Patterns of Thermal Effluent Discharged From Young-Kwang Nuclear Power Plant Using Remote Sensing Data

This study is focused to analyze the movement of thermal effluent dischargeed from nuclear power plant by season, ebb and flow, and before and after foundation of tide embankment using thermal infrared band image of 28 scenes observed from Landsat from 1987 to 2004, which is the early stage of operation of young-kwang nuclear power plant. In diffusion of thermal effluent discharge by seasons, spring and summer is spreading further than autumn and winter. It is considered to distribute widely mixed with thermal effluent discharge and hot water, which is distributed naturally along the seaside. It is known the fact that tidal currents control the direction of diffusion of thermal effluent discharge by the change of ebb and flow. Namely, it is distributed widely on the Southwest direction along the seaside by tidal currents when ebb and, it is moved widely on the Northeast direction along the seaside by tidal current when flood. However, in the early stage of flood current, the mainstream of thermal effluent discharge is spread on Southwest direction and, the direction is changed on North­east way when the latter period of flood current. Similarly, in the early stage of ebb current, the mainstream of thermal effluent discharge is spread on Northeast direction and, the direction is changed on Southwest direction when the latter period of ebb current. As the result of comparing to the diffusion pattern of thermal effluent discharge before and after the foundation of seawall, discharged thermal effluent from the drain of plant by the foundation of dike is shown as curved circle pattern on Northeast to West direction from the ending portion of the seawall.