TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving evaluation criteria for monitoring networks of weak radioactive plumes after nuclear emergencies
AU - Urso, L.
AU - Astrup, P.
AU - Helle, K.B.
AU - Raskob, W.
AU - Rojas Palma, Carlos
AU - Kaiser, J.C.
A2 - Paridaens, Johan
N1 - Score = 10
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Networks of monitoring stations have been set up in many European countries to detect the passage of a radioactive cloud. The layout and spatial density of these networks differs from country to country. Germany and the Netherlands decided to set up relatively dense networks for the detection of weak radioactive plumes. As a test case the existing sampling design of the Dutch and German networks with 193 sensors in an area of 200 km around the nuclear power plant near the city of Lingen (Emsland) in the German federal state of Lower Saxony has been selected. For a hypothetical accident scenario 292 radioactive plumes have been simulated which are shaped by recorded weather conditions of the year 2007. Simulation results show that 95% of the plumes are detected within 4 h after the release. Only in a joint network of German and Dutch sensors all simulated plumes triggered an alarm. This result encourages efforts of close international collaboration, e.g. between EU member states, in network design and operation. The assessment criteria can be used for a revision of existing networks or for planning purposes in countries such as those applying for EU membership.
AB - Networks of monitoring stations have been set up in many European countries to detect the passage of a radioactive cloud. The layout and spatial density of these networks differs from country to country. Germany and the Netherlands decided to set up relatively dense networks for the detection of weak radioactive plumes. As a test case the existing sampling design of the Dutch and German networks with 193 sensors in an area of 200 km around the nuclear power plant near the city of Lingen (Emsland) in the German federal state of Lower Saxony has been selected. For a hypothetical accident scenario 292 radioactive plumes have been simulated which are shaped by recorded weather conditions of the year 2007. Simulation results show that 95% of the plumes are detected within 4 h after the release. Only in a joint network of German and Dutch sensors all simulated plumes triggered an alarm. This result encourages efforts of close international collaboration, e.g. between EU member states, in network design and operation. The assessment criteria can be used for a revision of existing networks or for planning purposes in countries such as those applying for EU membership.
KW - Anthropogenic environmental radioactivity
KW - Emergency preparedness
KW - Monitoring networks
KW - Spatial data analysis
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/ezp_124612
UR - http://knowledgecentre.sckcen.be/so2/bibref/9544
U2 - 10.1016/j.envsoft.2012.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.envsoft.2012.05.001
M3 - Article
SN - 1364-8152
VL - 38
SP - 108
EP - 116
JO - Environmental modelling and software
JF - Environmental modelling and software
ER -