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Title: Comparison of Savannah River Site`s meteorological databases

Abstract

A five-year meteorological database from the 61-meter, H-Area tower for the period 1987--1991 was compared to an earlier database for the period 1982--1986. The amount of invalid data for the newer 87--91 database was one third that for the earlier database. The data recovery percentage for the last four years of the 87-91 database was well above 90%. Considerable effort was necessary to fill in for missing data periods for the newer database for the H-Area tower. Therefore, additional databases that have been prepared for the remaining SRS meteorological towers have had missing and erroneous data flagged, but not replaced. The F-Area tower`s database was used for cross-comparison purposes because of its proximity to H Area. The primary purpose of this report is to compare the H-Tower databases for 82-86 and 87-91. Statistical methods enable the use of probability statements to be made concerning the hypothesis of no differences between the distributions of the two time periods, assuming each database is a random sample from its respective distribution. This assumption is required for the statistical tests to be valid. A number of statistical comparisons can be made between the two data sets, even though the 82-86 database exist only asmore » distributions of frequency and mean speed.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10103228
Report Number(s):
WSRC-RP-93-269
ON: DE94001751
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jul 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT; METEOROLOGY; DATA; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; CLIMATIC CHANGE; WIND; STATISTICS; DATA BASE MANAGEMENT; 540150; 990200; SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES; MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS

Citation Formats

Weber, A.H. Comparison of Savannah River Site`s meteorological databases. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.2172/10103228.
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Weber, A.H. Comparison of Savannah River Site`s meteorological databases. United States. doi:10.2172/10103228.
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Weber, A.H. Thu . "Comparison of Savannah River Site`s meteorological databases". United States. doi:10.2172/10103228. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10103228.
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@article{osti_10103228,
title = {Comparison of Savannah River Site`s meteorological databases},
author = {Weber, A.H.},
abstractNote = {A five-year meteorological database from the 61-meter, H-Area tower for the period 1987--1991 was compared to an earlier database for the period 1982--1986. The amount of invalid data for the newer 87--91 database was one third that for the earlier database. The data recovery percentage for the last four years of the 87-91 database was well above 90%. Considerable effort was necessary to fill in for missing data periods for the newer database for the H-Area tower. Therefore, additional databases that have been prepared for the remaining SRS meteorological towers have had missing and erroneous data flagged, but not replaced. The F-Area tower`s database was used for cross-comparison purposes because of its proximity to H Area. The primary purpose of this report is to compare the H-Tower databases for 82-86 and 87-91. Statistical methods enable the use of probability statements to be made concerning the hypothesis of no differences between the distributions of the two time periods, assuming each database is a random sample from its respective distribution. This assumption is required for the statistical tests to be valid. A number of statistical comparisons can be made between the two data sets, even though the 82-86 database exist only as distributions of frequency and mean speed.},
doi = {10.2172/10103228},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/10103228
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  • During its nine day existence, Hurricane Hugo tracked thousands of miles, caused millions of dollars in property damage, and took many lives. Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, the Virgin Islands, and South Carolina took the brunt of the storm. The staff of meteorologists of the Environmental Technology Section (ETS) provided briefings and forecasts to assist Savannah River Site management in developing appropriate site-wide protective action plans. Loops'' created from infrared satellite imagery provided the most useful forecasting tool. Single-site, composite radar imagery and wind measurements from the nine 200 m towers provided real-time monitoring of the effects of Hugo at SRS. Amore » peak wind gust of 64.9 mph and up to 5.05 inches of precipitation were recorded at SRS. An assessment of the potential for wind damage to selected SRS facilities, had Hugo passed over SRS, showed that little structural damage would have occurred with proper pre-storm preparation.« less

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    Radiological dose to the offsite maximum individual or the 50-mile population is often estimated assuming that operational atmospheric releases originate from the geographical center of the Savannah River Site. Historically, meteorological data collected from instrumentation on the H-Area tower have been utilized to estimate atmospheric dispersion from centrally located releases.'' This paper examines the effect on dose predictions using meteorological data from seven onsite towers located at A, C, D, F, H, K, and P areas to describe meteorological conditions at the central release location. Maximum individual dose estimates using both annual and short-term average air concentrations are well withinmore » 20% of the mean prediction. Population dose estimates are also within 20% of the mean prediction. Population dose estimates are also within 20% of the mean except for two-hour doses using H-Area meteorological data, which is less than the average estimate by about 30%.« less

  • During its nine day existence, Hurricane Hugo tracked thousands of miles, caused millions of dollars in property damage, and took many lives. Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, the Virgin Islands, and South Carolina took the brunt of the storm. The staff of meteorologists of the Environmental Technology Section (ETS) provided briefings and forecasts to assist Savannah River Site management in developing appropriate site-wide protective action plans. ``Loops`` created from infrared satellite imagery provided the most useful forecasting tool. Single-site, composite radar imagery and wind measurements from the nine 200 m towers provided real-time monitoring of the effects of Hugo at SRS. Amore » peak wind gust of 64.9 mph and up to 5.05 inches of precipitation were recorded at SRS. An assessment of the potential for wind damage to selected SRS facilities, had Hugo passed over SRS, showed that little structural damage would have occurred with proper pre-storm preparation.« less

  • ;
    Radiological dose to the offsite maximum individual or the 50-mile population is often estimated assuming that operational atmospheric releases originate from the geographical center of the Savannah River Site. Historically, meteorological data collected from instrumentation on the H-Area tower have been utilized to estimate atmospheric dispersion from centrally located ``releases.`` This paper examines the effect on dose predictions using meteorological data from seven onsite towers located at A, C, D, F, H, K, and P areas to describe meteorological conditions at the central release location. Maximum individual dose estimates using both annual and short-term average air concentrations are well withinmore » 20% of the mean prediction. Population dose estimates are also within 20% of the mean prediction. Population dose estimates are also within 20% of the mean except for two-hour doses using H-Area meteorological data, which is less than the average estimate by about 30%.« less