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Title: Real-time modeling of complex atmospheric releases in urban areas

Abstract

If a nuclear installation in or near an urban area has a venting, fire, or explosion, airborne radioactivity becomes the major concern. Dispersion models are the immediate tool for estimating the dose and contamination. Responses in urban areas depend on knowledge of the amount of the release, representative meteorological data, and the ability of the dispersion model to simulate the complex flows as modified by terrain or local wind conditions. A centralized dispersion modeling system can produce realistic assessments of radiological accidents anywhere in a country within several minutes if it is computer-automated. The system requires source-term, terrain, mapping and dose-factor databases, real-time meteorological data acquisition, three-dimensional atmospheric transport and dispersion models, and experienced staff. Experience with past responses in urban areas by the Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability (ARAC) program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory illustrate the challenges for three-dimensional dispersion models.

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States); EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10178717
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-115998; CONF-9408145-1
ON: DE94018063; TRN: 94:020116
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48; AC08-93NV11265
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: International workshop on scientific bases for decision making after a radioactive contamination of an urban environment,Rio de Janeiro (Brazil),29 Aug - 2 Sep 1994; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS; ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION; RADIATION ACCIDENTS; EMERGENCY PLANS; AIR; CONTAMINATION; URBAN AREAS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; 053004; 540130; 990200; DESIGN BASIS AND HYPOTHETICAL ACCIDENTS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT; MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS

Citation Formats

Baskett, R L, Ellis, J S, and Sullivan, T J. Real-time modeling of complex atmospheric releases in urban areas. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Baskett, R L, Ellis, J S, & Sullivan, T J. Real-time modeling of complex atmospheric releases in urban areas. United States.
Baskett, R L, Ellis, J S, and Sullivan, T J. 1994. "Real-time modeling of complex atmospheric releases in urban areas". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10178717.
@article{osti_10178717,
title = {Real-time modeling of complex atmospheric releases in urban areas},
author = {Baskett, R L and Ellis, J S and Sullivan, T J},
abstractNote = {If a nuclear installation in or near an urban area has a venting, fire, or explosion, airborne radioactivity becomes the major concern. Dispersion models are the immediate tool for estimating the dose and contamination. Responses in urban areas depend on knowledge of the amount of the release, representative meteorological data, and the ability of the dispersion model to simulate the complex flows as modified by terrain or local wind conditions. A centralized dispersion modeling system can produce realistic assessments of radiological accidents anywhere in a country within several minutes if it is computer-automated. The system requires source-term, terrain, mapping and dose-factor databases, real-time meteorological data acquisition, three-dimensional atmospheric transport and dispersion models, and experienced staff. Experience with past responses in urban areas by the Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability (ARAC) program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory illustrate the challenges for three-dimensional dispersion models.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10178717}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994},
month = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994}
}

Conference:
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