Method to characterize local meteorology at nuclear facilities for application to emergency response needs
Effluent dispersion is evaluated using computer codes that require various meteorological parameters such as wind and stability data. These data will be based on current conditions at the site in question, and on forecasts of the expected local meteorology for the time period to be simulated. To assist NRC personnel in preparing these forecasts, a weather-typing model was implemented to analyze the characteristic behavior of local meteorology as it responds to various synoptic-scale weather features (e.g., warm fronts, cold fronts, high pressure systems). Historical observations acquired by instrumented towers at several nuclear power plants were analyzed as a function of the prevailing synoptic weather feature, synoptic-scale pressure gradient, and time of year. This study focused on sites located in shoreline and complex terrain environments because of the occurrence of mesoscale circulations, which are the sea/lake-land breeze and valley wind systems. Such circulations produce diurnally changing wind and stability conditions that cannot be readily identified by synoptic-scale weather forecasts. The advantage in analyzing the climatological behavior of local meteorology as it responds to various synoptic weather systems is that certain weather systems will control the local meteorology and produce persistent conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5845214
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-3882; PNL-5155; ON: TI86010156
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BATTELLE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES
EMERGENCY PLANS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FORECASTING
MASS TRANSFER
METEOROLOGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEATHER