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Study of atmospheric stagnation, recirculation and ventilation potential at Narora Atomic Power Station NPP site

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Abstract

The atmosphere is an important pathway to be considered in assessment of the environmental impact of radioactivity releases from nuclear facilities. The estimation of concentration of released effluents in air and possible ground contamination needs an understanding of relevant atmospheric dispersion. This paper describes the meteorological characteristics of Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS) Nuclear Power Project site by using the integral parameters developed by Allwine and Whiteman (Atmospheric Environment 28(4):713–721, 1994). Meteorological data measured during the period 2006–2010 were analysed. The integral quantities related to the occurrence of stagnation, recirculation and ventilation characteristics were studied for the NAPS site to assess the dilution potential of the atmosphere. Wind run and recirculation factors were calculated for a 24-h transport time using 5 years of hourly surface measurements of wind speed and direction. The occurrence of stagnation, recirculation and ventilation characteristics during 2006–2010 at the NAPS site is observed to be 33.8, 19.5 and 34.7 % of the time, respectively. The presence of strong winds with predominant wind direction NW and WNW during winter and summer seasons leads to higher ventilation (48.1 and 44.3 %) and recirculation (32.6 % of the summer season). The presence of more dispersed light winds during pre-winter season with predominant wind directions W and WNW results in more stagnation (59.7 % of the pre-winter season). Thus, this study will serve as an essential meteorological tool to understand the transport mechanism of atmospheric radioactive effluent release from any nuclear industry during the pre-operational as well as operational phase.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Shri AK Ghosh, Director, HS&E group, and Shri PK Sarkar, Head, HPD, BARC, for their keen interest and encouragement. The continuous support given by Shri PM Ravi, Head, ESS, HPD, BARC, is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. AK Patra and Shri DP Nankar ESL, KAPS, are gratefully acknowledged for providing technical suggestions. Thanks are also due to Shri JP Singh and Shri S Ahmed, ESL, NAPS, for their help and cooperation during collection of meteorological data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Survey Laboratory, Environmental Studies Section, Health Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Narora Atomic Power Station, P.O. NAPP Township, Narora, District Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, 202389, India

    Deepak Kumar, Avinash Kumar, Vimal Kumar & Jaivender Kumar

  2. Health Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400 085, India

    P. M Ravi

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  1. Deepak Kumar
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  2. Avinash Kumar
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  3. Vimal Kumar
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  4. Jaivender Kumar
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  5. P. M Ravi
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Correspondence to Deepak Kumar.

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Kumar, D., Kumar, A., Kumar, V. et al. Study of atmospheric stagnation, recirculation and ventilation potential at Narora Atomic Power Station NPP site. Environ Monit Assess 185, 2887–2894 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2756-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2756-0

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