Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2016.41.1.031

Development of Three-Dimensional Trajectory Model for Detecting Source Region of the Radioactive Materials Released into the Atmosphere  

Suh, Kyung-Suk (Nuclear Environmental Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Park, Kihyun (Nuclear Environmental Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Min, Byung-Il (Nuclear Environmental Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Kim, Sora (Nuclear Environmental Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Yang, Byung-Mo (Nuclear Environmental Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Publication Information
Journal of Radiation Protection and Research / v.41, no.1, 2016 , pp. 31-39 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: It is necessary to consider the overall countermeasure for analysis of nuclear activities according to the increase of the nuclear facilities like nuclear power and reprocessing plants in the neighboring countries including China, Taiwan, North Korea, Japan and South Korea. South Korea and comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty organization (CTBTO) are now operating the monitoring instruments to detect radionuclides released into the air. It is important to estimate the origin of radionuclides measured using the detection technology as well as the monitoring analysis in aspects of investigation and security of the nuclear activities in neighboring countries. Materials and methods: A three-dimensional forward/backward trajectory model has been developed to estimate the origin of radionuclides for a covert nuclear activity. The developed trajectory model was composed of forward and backward modules to track the particle positions using finite difference method. Results and discussion: A three-dimensional trajectory model was validated using the measured data at Chernobyl accident. The calculated results showed a good agreement by using the high concentration measurements and the locations where was near a release point. The three-dimensional trajectory model had some uncertainty according to the release time, release height and time interval of the trajectory at each release points. An atmospheric dispersion model called long-range accident dose assessment system (LADAS), based on the fields of regards (FOR) technique, was applied to reduce the uncertainties of the trajectory model and to improve the detective technology for estimating the radioisotopes emission area. Conclusion: The detective technology developed in this study can evaluate in release area and origin for covert nuclear activities based on measured radioisotopes at monitoring stations, and it might play critical tool to improve the ability of the nuclear safety field.
Keywords
Nuclear activities; Detection technology; Trajectory model; Atmospheric dispersion model;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Geer L. Radionuclide evidence for low-yield nuclear testing in North Korea in April/May 2010. Science and Global Security. 2012;20:1-29.   DOI
2 Draxler R. Evaluation of an ensemble dispersion calculation. J. Appl. Meteorol. 2003;42:308-317.   DOI
3 Tinker R, Orr B, Grzechnik M, Hoffma E, Saey P, Solomon S. Evaluation of radioxenon releases in Australia using atmospheric dispersion modelling tools. J. Environ. Radioact. 2010; 101(5):353-361.   DOI
4 Bocquet M, Wua L, Chevallierc F. Bayesian design of control space for optimal assimilation of observations. Part I: Consistent multiscale formalism. Q. J. R. Meteorolog. Soc. 2011;137(658):1340-1356.   DOI
5 Mukherjee C, Kasibhatla P. S., West M. Bayesian statistical modeling of spatially correlated error structure in atmospheric tracer inverse analysis. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2011;11:5365-5382.   DOI
6 Nasstrom JS, Sugiyama G, Leone JM, Ermak DL. A real-time atmospheric dispersion modeling system. UCRL-JC-135120. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 1993; 1-8.
7 Furuno A, Terada H, Chino M, Yamazawa H. Experimental verification for real-time environmental emergency response system; WSPEEDI by European tracer experiment. Atmos. Environ. 2004;38:6989-6998.   DOI
8 Erhart J, Sauer J, Schule O, Benz G, Rafat M, Richter J. Development of RODOS, a comprehensive decision support system for nuclear emergencies in European overview. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 1993;50:195-203.   DOI
9 Wotawa G. Meteorological analysis of the spring-2010 radionuclide measurements in Eastern Asia. EGU2012-9463. European Geosciences Union, Vienna, Austria 2012;9463.
10 Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety. Functionality advancement of AtomCARE. KINS/GR-509. Daejeon, Republic of Korea. 2013;2:1-112.
11 Suh KS, Jeong HJ, Kim EH, Hwang WT, Han MH. Verification of the Lagrangian particle model using the ETEX experiment. Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2006;33:1159-1163.   DOI
12 Seibert P. Convergence and accuracy of numerical methods for trajectory calculation. J. Appl. Meteorol. 1993;32:558-566.   DOI
13 Klug W, graziani G, Grippa G, Pierece D, Tassone C. Evaluation of long range atmospheric transport models using environmental radioactivity data from the Chernobyl accident. EUR 14148 EN. Luxembourge, Luxembourge . Commission of the European Communities. 1992;1-366.
14 Wotawa G, et al. Atmospheric transport modelling in support of CTBT verification-overview and basic concepts. Atmos. Environ. 2003;37:2529-2537.   DOI