Modelling the global atmospheric transport and deposition of radionuclides from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident
Item
Title (Dublin Core)
Modelling the global atmospheric transport and deposition of radionuclides from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident
Description (Dublin Core)
We modeled the global atmospheric dispersion and deposition of radionuclides released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. The EMAC atmospheric chemistry – general circulation model was used, with circulation dynamics nudged towards ERA-Interim reanalysis data. We applied a resolution of approximately 0.5 degrees in latitude and longitude (T255). The model accounts for emissions and transport of the radioactive isotopes <sup>131</sup>I and <sup>137</sup>Cs, and removal processes through precipitation, particle sedimentation and dry deposition. In addition, we simulated the release of <sup>133</sup>Xe, a noble gas that can be regarded as a passive transport tracer of contaminated air. The source terms are based on Chino et al. (2011) and Stohl et al. (2012); especially the emission estimates of <sup>131</sup>I are associated with a high degree of uncertainty. The calculated concentrations have been compared to station observations by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO). We calculated that about 80% of the radioactivity from Fukushima which was released to the atmosphere deposited into the Pacific Ocean. In Japan a large inhabited land area was contaminated by more than 40 kBq m<sup>-2</sup>. We also estimated the inhalation and 50-year dose by <sup>137</sup>Cs, <sup>134</sup>Cs and <sup>131</sup>I to which the people in Japan are exposed.
Creator (Dublin Core)
Christoudias, T.
Lelieveld, J.
Date (Dublin Core)
2018-01-15
Type (Dublin Core)
info:eu-repo/semantics/Text
Format (Dublin Core)
info:eu-repo/semantics/application/pdf
Identifier (Dublin Core)
10.5194/acp-13-1425-2013
https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/13/1425/2013/
Source (Dublin Core)
eISSN: 1680-7324
Language (Dublin Core)
eng
Relation (Dublin Core)
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/226144
Rights (Dublin Core)
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
