Source Term Estimation of Radioxenon Released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Reactors Using Measured Air Concentrations and Atmospheric Transport Modeling

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.013· OSTI ID:1130186

Eslinger, Paul W. ^[1]; Biegalski, S. ^[2]; Bowyer, Ted W. ^[1]; Cooper, Matthew W. ^[1]; Haas, Derek A. ^[1]; Hayes, James C. ^[1]; Hoffman, Ian ^[3]; Korpach, E. ^[3]; Yi, Jing ^[3]; Miley, Harry S. ^[1]; Rishel, Jeremy P. ^[1]; Ungar, R. Kurt ^[3]; White, Brian ^[3]; Woods, Vincent T. ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Univ. of Texas at Austin, TX (United States)
3. Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON (Canada)

Systems designed to monitor airborne radionuclides released from underground nuclear explosions detected radioactive fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011. Atmospheric transport modeling (ATM) of plumes of noble gases and particulates were performed soon after the accident to determine plausible detection locations of any radioactive releases to the atmosphere. We combine sampling data from multiple International Modeling System (IMS) locations in a new way to estimate the magnitude and time sequence of the releases. Dilution factors from the modeled plume at five different detection locations were combined with 57 atmospheric concentration measurements of 133-Xe taken from March 18 to March 23 to estimate the source term. This approach estimates that 59% of the 1.24×1019 Bq of 133-Xe present in the reactors at the time of the earthquake was released to the atmosphere over a three day period. Source term estimates from combinations of detection sites have lower spread than estimates based on measurements at single detection sites. Sensitivity cases based on data from four or more detection locations bound the source term between 35% and 255% of available xenon inventory.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1130186
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA--90379; NN4011010
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Vol. 127; ISSN 0265-931X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ATM
Fukushima
IMS
atmospheric transport modeling
international monitoring system
radioxenon