Abstract
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) catastrophe of 1986 has been a milestone in the use of nuclear power for energy generation. After the accident, various topics have been discussed to evaluate the details of occurrence of the event and to understand its impacts on human, animal and plant life. One of the most controversial topics is the release height and homogeneity of radionuclides at release point in the atmosphere. Currently, there exists no definitive decision on the release height and vertical distribution pattern of radionuclides released from the Chernobyl accident. Based on this premise, this study focuses on the analysis of various possible release patterns along the vertical dimension and the potential influences on the atmospheric dispersion and total deposition with particular reference to 137Cs. For this purpose, some release pattern functions following uniform, Dirac delta, exponential, log-Pearson type III, and cumulative distribution functions along the z-axis were used to simulate the dispersion of 137Cs released from the accident site. A total of 22 release patterns are produced using different maximum release heights (2000, 3000, and 4000 m). A Lagrangian particle dispersion model, FLEXPART, was then used to conduct simulations for these conditions to assess most coherent dispersion and deposition patterns. Model results from each release function were plotted, compared with each other and verified with measured data. In the functions where the release predominantly existed at lower levels, more extreme values were observed in the close vicinity of the source. Consequently, Dirac delta, log-Pearson type III (1), and exponential functions can be used as worst-case conditions at local scale. On the other hand, simulations also revealed that contamination spread to wider areas in cases where the release occurred from higher levels of the atmosphere. Therefore, log-Pearson type III (2) and cumulative distribution function can be considered more significant concerning a wider distribution of affected areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albergel A, Martin D, Strauss B, Gros J-M (1988) The Chernobyl accident: Modelling of dispersion over Europe of the radioactive plume and comparison with air activity measurements. Atmos Environ 22:2431–2444. https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(88)90475-1
Bilgiç E, Gündüz O (2020) Dose and risk estimation of Cs-137 and I-131 released from a hypothetical accident in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. J Environ Radioact 211:106082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106082
Brandt J, Christensen JH, Frohn LM (2002) Modelling transport and deposition of caesium and iodine from the Chernobyl accident using the DREAM model. Atmos Chem Phys 2:397–417. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2-397-2002
Chino M, Nakayama H, Nagai H et al (2011) Preliminary estimation of release amounts of 131I and 137 Cs accidentally discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power plant into the atmosphere. J Nucl Sci Technol 48:1129–1134. https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.48.1129
Davoine X, Bocquet M (2007) Inverse modelling-based reconstruction of the Chernobyl source term available for long-range transport. Atmos Chem Phys 7:1549–1564. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-7-1549-2007
De Cort M, Dubois G, MG G, et al (1998) Atlas of Caesium 137 deposition on Europe after the Chernobyl accident. EUR 1673 EN/RU
Devell L, Guntay S, Powers DA (1995) The Chernobyl reactor accident source term: development of a consensus view. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development-Nuclear Energy Agency
Evangeliou N, Hamburger T, Talerko N, Zibtsev S, Bondar Y, Stohl A, Balkanski Y, Mousseau TA, Møller AP (2016) Reconstructing the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) accident 30 years after. A unique database of air concentration and deposition measurements over Europe. Environ Pollut 216:408–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.030
Evangeliou N, Hamburger T, Cozic A, Balkanski Y, Stohl A (2017) Inverse modeling of the Chernobyl source term using atmospheric concentration and deposition measurements. Atmos Chem Phys 17:8805–8824. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-8805-2017
Gudiksen PH, Harvey TF, Lange R (1989) Chernobyl source term, atmospheric dispersion, and dose estimation. Health Phys 57:697–706. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198911000-00001
Hass H, Memmesheimer M, Geiß H et al (1990) Simulation of the chernobyl radioactive cloud over Europe using the eurad model. Atmos Environ Part A, Gen Top 24:673–692. https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-1686(90)90022-F
Hertel O, Christensen J, Runge EH, Asman WAH, Berkowicz R, Hovmand MF, Hov Ø (1995) Development and testing of a new variable scale air pollution model-ACDEP. Atmos Environ 29:1267–1290. https://doi.org/10.1016/1352-2310(95)00067-9
Jaworowski Z, Kownacka L (1986) Tropospheric and Stratospheric Distribution of Radionuclides After Chernobyl Accident. Warsaw
Katata G, Ota M, Terada H, Chino M, Nagai H (2012) Atmospheric discharge and dispersion of radionuclides during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Part I: Source term estimation and local-scale atmospheric dispersion in early phase of the accident. J Environ Radioact 109:103–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.02.006
Katata G, Chino M, Kobayashi T, Terada H, Ota M, Nagai H, Kajino M, Draxler R, Hort MC, Malo A, Torii T, Sanada Y (2015) Detailed source term estimation of the atmospheric release for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident by coupling simulations of an atmospheric dispersion model with an improved deposition scheme and oceanic dispersion model. Atmos Chem Phys 15:1029–1070. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-1029-2015
Korsakissok I, Mathieu A, Didier D (2013) Atmospheric dispersion and ground deposition induced by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: A local-scale simulation and sensitivity study. Atmos Environ 70:267–279
Lange R, Dickerson MH, Gudiksen PH (1988) Dose estimates from the Chernobyl accident. Nucl Technol 82:311–323. https://doi.org/10.13182/NT88-A34132
Maryon RH (1998) Determining cross-wind variance for low frequency wind meander. Atmos Environ 32:115–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(97)00325-7
Mathieu A, Kajino M, Korsakissok I, Périllat R, Quélo D, Quérel A, Saunier O, Sekiyama TT, Igarashi Y, Didier D (2018a) Fukushima Daiichi–derived radionuclides in the atmosphere, transport and deposition in Japan: A review. Appl Geochem 91(4):122–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.01.002
Mathieu A, Korsakissok I, et al. (2018b). EJP-CONCERT European Joint Programme for the Integration of Radiation Protection Research H2020 – 662287.
McMahon TA, Denison PJ (1979) Empirical atmospheric deposition parameters-A survey. Atmos Environ 13:571–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(79)90186-0
Min JS, Kim HR (2018) Environmental impact on the Korean peninsula due to hypothetical accidental scenarios at the Haiyang nuclear power plant in China. Prog Nucl Energy 105:254–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.01.012
Persson C, Rodhe H, Geer L-ED (1987) The Chernobyl accident - a meteorological analysis of how radionuclides reached and were deposited in Sweden. Ambio 16:20–31
Saunier O, Mathieu A, Didier D, Tombette M, Quélo D, Winiarek V, Bocquet M (2013) An inverse modeling method to assess the source term of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident using gamma dose rate observations. Atmos Chem Phys 13:11403–11421. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-11403-2013
SCUAE - USSR State Committee on the Utilization of Atomic Energy (1986) The accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant and its consequences. In: Information compiled for the IAEA experts’ Meeting. Vienna, pp 25–29 August 1986
Slinn WGN (1982) Predictions for particle deposition to vegetative canopies. Atmos Environ 16(7):1785–1794. https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(82)90271-2
Srinivas CV, Venkatesan R (2005) A simulation study of dispersion of air borne radionuclides from a nuclear power plant under a hypothetical accidental scenario at a tropical coastal site. Atmos Environ 39:1497–1511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.11.016
Srinivas CV, Rakesh PT, Hari Prasad KBRR, Venkatesan R, Baskaran R, Venkatraman B (2014) Assessment of atmospheric dispersion and radiological impact from the Fukushima accident in a 40-km range using a simulation approach. Air Qual Atmos Health 7:209–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-014-0241-3
Stohl A, Thomson DJ (1999) A density correction for Lagrangian particle dispersion models. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 90:155–167. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001741110696
Stohl A, Hittenberger M, Wotawa G (1998) Validation of the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART against large-scale tracer experiment data. Atmos Environ 32:4245–4264. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00184-8
Stohl A, Forster C, Frank A, Seibert P, Wotawa G (2005) Technical note: The Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART version 6.2. Atmos Chem Phys 5:2461–2474. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-5-2461-2005
Stohl A, Seibert P, Wotawa G, Arnold D, Burkhart JF, Eckhardt S, Tapia C, Vargas A, Yasunari TJ (2012) Xenon-133 and caesium-137 releases into the atmosphere from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant: Determination of the source term, atmospheric dispersion, and deposition. Atmos Chem Phys 12:2313–2343. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-2313-2012
Talerko NN (1990) Calculating the lift of a radioactive impurity from the Chernobyl NPP wrecked block. Meteorol Gidrol 10:39–46
Talerko N (2005a) Mesoscale modelling of radioactive contamination formation in Ukraine caused by the Chernobyl accident. J Environ Radioact 78:311–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.04.008
Talerko N (2005b) Reconstruction of 131I radioactive contamination in Ukraine caused by the Chernobyl accident using atmospheric transport modelling. J Environ Radioact 84:343–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.04.005
Terada H, Katata G, Chino M, Nagai H (2012) Atmospheric discharge and dispersion of radionuclides during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Part II: Verification of the source term and analysis of regional-scale atmospheric dispersion. J Environ Radioact 112:141–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.05.023
Thomson DJ (1987) Criteria for the selection of stochastic models of particle trajectories in turbulent flows. J Fluid Mech 180:529–556. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112087001940
Waight P, Metivier H, Jacob P, et al (1995) Chernobyl – Ten Years on: Radiological and Health Impact
Zhu Y, Guo J, Nie C, Zhou Y (2014) Simulation and dose analysis of a hypothetical accident in Sanmen nuclear power plant. Ann Nucl Energy 65:207–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2013.11.016
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge FLEXPART community for all contributions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
EB and OG conceptualized the problem and defined the functions for source term. EB formulated model configurations and prepared all required data for FLEXPART. EB conducted the simulations. OG set the methodology and supervised the research. EB and OG evaluated the results and wrote the text.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Georg Steinhauser
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 8660 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bilgiç, E., Gündüz, O. Analysis of the impact of various vertical release patterns on the atmospheric dispersion and total deposition of 137Cs from Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 66864–66887 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15211-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15211-8