The dispersion of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the Rhone River plume: a numerical model

A numerical three dimensional model to simulate the transport of Cs and Pu by the Rhone River plume has been developed. The model solves the hydrodynamic equations, including baroclinic terms (that account for density variations) and a turbulence model, the suspended matter equations, including several particle classes simultaneously, settling, deposition and erosion of the sediment, and the radionuclide dispersion equations. Exchanges of radionuclides between the liquid and solid phases are described in terms of kinetic transfer coefficients. The dependence of these coefficients with water salinity is explicitly included in the model since it changes from freshwater to seawater values in the model domain. Computed activity levels in water, suspended matter and bed sediments are, in general, in agreement with measurements in the area. The model can also give a wide amount of information, as distribution coefficients for total suspended matter and sediments and for each particle class, fractions of radionuclides fixed to solid particles, and vertical profiles of radionuclides and distribution coefficients.     

A modelling study on 137Cs and 239,240Pu behaviour in the Alborán Sea, western Mediterranean

A model for simulating the dispersion processes of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the Alborán Sea is described. The model consists of two hydrodynamic models: a 2D depth-averaged model and a two-layer model which provide tidal and geostrophic currents, respectively; a sediment transport model which provides suspended particle concentrations and sedimentation rates over the domain; and the radionuclide dispersion model including interactions of dissolved radionuclides with suspended particles and bed sediments. These processes are formulated using kinetic transfer coefficients. The hydrodynamic and sediment models are run and validated in advance, and their results are then used to simulate the dispersion of 137Cs and 239,240Pu, which are introduced from atmospheric fallout. Radionuclide concentrations in the water column and distributions in bed sediments have been compared with measurements in the sea. Both set of data are, in general, in agreement. The model has also been applied to calculate radionuclide fluxes through the Strait of Gibraltar. These computed fluxes have been compared with previous estimations as well.     

Modelling the physico-chemical speciation of plutonium in the eastern Irish Sea: a further development

A numerical full three-dimensional model previously developed to simulate the physicochemical speciation of plutonium in the eastern Irish Sea has been improved. The model solves simultaneously the hydrodynamic equations, the suspended matter equation and the equations that give the time evolution of Pu concentrations in water, suspended matter and bottom sediments. It is considered that Pu may exist in each phase in two different oxidation states. Redox reactions are also considered. In the earlier version of the model, a one-step kinetic model was used to describe the transfers of radionuclides between the dissolved and solid phases. Although with this kind of model the contamination of the sediments can be properly simulated, it is clearly not able to describe the re-dissolution of radionuclides from a contaminated sediment once the external source to the sea is reduced. Thus, the model has been improved by substituting the one-step model with a two-step kinetic model consisting of two consecutive reversible reactions. Now it is possible to simulate both the sediment contamination and the re-dissolution processes.     

On the sensitivity of a marine dispersion model to parameters describing the transfers of radionuclides between the liquid and solid phases

The sensitivity of a marine dispersion model for non-conservative radionuclides, previously developed and validated for the English Channel, to parameters describing the exchanges between the liquid and solid phases (suspended matter and bottom sediments) has been studied using a Monte Carlo method. A probability distribution is assigned to each parameter. They are sampled to obtain a set of model parameters and a model run is carried out. This process is repeated to obtain a distribution of model outputs. Partial correlation coefficients are calculated to assess the relative influence of each parameter on model output. Errors are also assigned to model results. Three situations are studied: an instantaneous release of radionuclides, a continuous release and the case of a contaminated sediment behaving as a long-term source of radionuclides. Calculations have also been carried out for two radionuclides with different geochemical behaviour: (137)Cs and (239,240)Pu. The results indicate that all parameters are relevant, depending on the phase we are interested in obtaining the result and on the source term (instantaneous, continuous or due to sediments). However, parameters that are, in general, more influential are kinetic rates, mixing depth in the sediment and mean radius of suspended and sediment particles. This suggests that including several particle sizes in future radionuclide dispersion models could lead to an improvement in model results. Differences have also been found with respect to the relevance of some parameters depending on the geochemical behaviour of the radionuclide.     

Three-dimensional modelling of the tide-induced dispersion of radionuclides in the sea

A three–dimensional marine dispersion model for radionuclieds has been developed. The model solves the three–dimensional hydrodynamic equations and, simultaneously, the three–dimensional advective–diffusive dispersion equations. Thus the tide–induced dispersion of radionuclides is obtained. The equations are solved using a finite difference explicit scheme using a time step of a few seconds with appropriate boundary conditions. As an example the model has been applied to study the dispersion of ¹³⁷Cs in the Irish Sea which is released from the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at Sellafield. Tidal amplitudes and current profiles obtained with the model have been compared with observations in the Irish Sea: both sets of data are in good agreement. Observed and computed ¹³⁷Cs distributions in waters have also been compared. The model gives a good representation of the dispersion of this radionuclide in the Irish Sea.     

太湖水体中悬浮物研究

为了全面了解太湖水中悬浮物的物质组成、变化规律,选取了太湖站近10年来各测点的连续观测资料及2次定点观测资料,分析了太湖水体中悬浮物的无机和有机颗粒成份、时空分布、垂直变化、与风速、风向的关系以及与重要光 学参数的关系。研究结果表明：太湖悬浮物中有机物大概占30%;浓度大小的湖区分布大致是：湖心区＞河口区、梅梁湖、贡湖、五里湖＞东太湖;悬浮物浓度的季节变化是：湖心区冬季、春季＞秋季＞夏季,东太湖冬季＞春季、夏季、秋季,其他湖区则没有明显季节变化;垂直分布是：深层＞表层并且底泥悬浮的临界风速在5~6.5 m/s之间;悬浮物浓度的增加是引起湖水透明度降低和光学衰减系数增大的主要原因。     

Occurrence and behaviour of radionuclides in the Moselle River-Part II: Distribution of radionuclides between aqueous phase and suspended matter

Most of the radionuclides released from nuclear power plants ( NPPs) into rivers are primarily adsorbed onto suspended matter. To describe this nuclide transfer, a model was used which takes the total suspended matter load as solid phase into account. The necessary partition factors of various radionuclides were determined in river water/suspended matter of the Moselle in laboratory investigations. By use of this model, a conservative estimate of the radionuclide concentration of the solid phase could be obtained which proved to be more realistic than the results based on the distribution law.Furthermore, the influence of grain-size on the specific activity of single fractions of a Moselle sediment was demonstrated using ¹³⁷Cs, ¹⁰⁶Ru and ¹⁴⁴Ce from the Chernobyl nuclear accident as tracers. The grain-size pattern is considered to be a main factor which may seriously distort the determination of distribution coefficients and concentration factors that are needed in applying the model based on the distribution law.     

Interaction between electrostatics and fluid dynamics in electrostatic precipitators

Significant effort has been devoted by past researchers in electrostatic precipitators to electrostatics and particle chemistry. Relatively little, however, has been published on the effect of turbulent flow and its interaction with electrostatics and particle dynamics. This paper describes an experiment and a fundamental model which is focused on the coupled effects of the fluid dynamics and electrostatics.A laboratory precipitator flow facility with laser beam illumination was used to visualize smoke flow. Detailed photographs of flow patterns with and without electric field were recorded in a horizontal plane through the precipitator.A theoretical model was used to numerically simulate the observed flow patterns in the experiment. In the model the flow was described by time-averaged mass and momentum equations with a two-equation turbulence model. The electric field was described by Maxwell electrostatic equation and the continuity of the current equation. The system of the coupled partial differential equations was solved by a finite difference scheme.The interaction between fluid dynamics and electrostatics is shown to have a significant role in altering the flow in the precipitator. The practical implication is that the interaction will aid in particle migration in some regions, but it will increase reentrainment and reduce particle migration in others. Comparison between the results from the experiment and numerical computations shows good qualitative agreement between the two. Since both the electrostatic and the fluid dynamic flow fields depend on the electrode geometry, further investigation may lead to improved design of precipitators.     

Partitioning of radiostrontium in marine aqueous suspensions: laboratory experiments and modeling studies

Quantitative information on the adsorption/desorption of radionuclides by suspended loads is important in the study of their environmental behavior. In this paper, controlled laboratory experiments were directed at studying the kinetic transfer and final distribution of radiostrontium in aqueous suspensions using 85Sr as tracer. The results showed that the uptake of 85Sr in seawater can be properly described by one reversible-reaction model. However, in the absence of competitive cations, it has been shown that two reactions of different characteristic times are unambiguously involved in the kinetic evolution of adsorption. Thus, a modeling approach consisting of three-box model has been applied. The model predicts in a satisfactory way the time evolution of activities in the dissolved phase and two sites in the particles. Experimental evidence showed, through comparison among kinetic and distribution coefficients corresponding to different conditions, that Ca2+ affects strongly the rate and extent of Sr uptake by suspended particles. On the other hand, distribution coefficients were found to be sensitive to changes in suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration, exhibiting a reverse effect with this parameter on the adsorption. In addition, desorption from particles is important showing that Sr can be easily released due to cation-exchange processes.     

Comparison between the predictions of a Gaussian plume model and a Lagrangian particle dispersion model for annual average calculations of long-range dispersion of radionuclides

This study attempts to validate the applicability of a simple Gaussian dispersion model for predicting long-range dispersion of continuous releases from an industrial site, by comparison with a Lagrangian particle dispersion model. The United Kingdom Meteorological Office model NAME has been used to predict annual average concentrations of radionuclides over Western Europe, resulting from discharges from the British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) site at Sellafield, UK. The results are compared here to calculations performed using a conventional Gaussian type of dispersion model, PLUME. The results of the Gaussian model were compared at 14 locations within Western Europe at long range (up to 1700 km). The differences in predictions between the models were explained readily by differences in the way dispersion and deposition processes are represented in the two models. However, differences are generally small compared to the expected precision of the models. The implementation of environmental processes in NAME is more complete and realistic than in PLUME, and as such the results from this model may be considered more realistic. However, given that PLUME is much simpler to use, and appears to over-estimate, rather than under-estimate, environmental concentrations, its use for radiological assessments appears appropriate.     

基于遥感反演长江中游地区悬浮泥沙研究

悬浮泥沙定量研究对于调查长江的水质、地貌、生态环境等起着至关重要的作用。以长江中游武汉地区2012~2013年14幅不同时相的Landsat ETM+遥感影像为主要数据源,结合野外采样悬浮泥沙浓度数据,分析了悬浮泥沙遥感定量反演方法,数据处理中针对ETM+SLC OFF影像缝隙问题,采用自适应局部回归匹配算法（ALR）进行影像自动恢复处理,在波段选择中对悬浮泥沙浓度和光谱反射率数据进行相关性分析,并运用传统关系建模方法和高斯模型方法对比,比较悬浮泥沙定量反演模型,利用实测验证数据对反演模型精度进行评估。研究结果表明：（1）ALR可以有效的获取悬浮泥沙敏感波段的遥感光谱反射率;（2）ETM+Band3悬浮泥沙浓度的高斯模型相关系数最高,通过对比得到模型反演的验证精度较高,研究证明遥感定量反演适合于长江流域武汉段泥沙含量大范围监测     

An operative lagrangian model for simulating radioactivity dispersion in the Strait of Gibraltar

GISPART (GIbraltar Strait PARticle Tracking model) is a three-dimensional particle tracking code to simulate the dispersion of radionuclides in the Strait of Gibraltar. It consists of a hydrodynamic module that is run off-line to determine tidal constants and residuals in the domain. This information is stored in several files that are read by the dispersion module to reconstruct water movements. The dispersion module uses a lagrangian approach. Thus, a radionuclide release is simulated by a number of particles, whose paths are computed individually. Radionuclide concentrations are obtained from the density of particles per water volume unit. Some examples of results are shown. The model is also available on-line.     

基于MODIS的长江中游河段悬浮泥沙浓度反演

监测和预报悬浮泥沙浓度的沿程分布和时间变化,无论是对于河流水利工程还是河流生态和环境保护都具有重要意义。卫星遥感反演同步性好、速度快、周期短,可以实时和全面地观测大尺度悬浮泥沙分布。旨在建立基于中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)影像的长江中游河段悬浮泥沙浓度反演模型, 并利用建立的模型反演2002~2009 年长江中游河段丰水期的悬浮泥沙浓度, 分析其在时间和空间上的变化特征。研究揭示,MODIS Terra 影像红波段与悬浮泥沙浓度具有显著的相关性（R2=0877,n=125,RMSE=4057 mg/L）,可以用于长江中游丰水期悬浮泥沙浓度的反演。长江三峡工程经历三次蓄水,坝下游宜昌至汉口段悬浮泥沙含量显著减少,荆江河段、洞庭湖及城陵矶至武汉江段下降最为显著。洞庭湖来水来沙是长江中游城陵矶以下江段主要的悬浮泥沙来源之一,从预测结果可知,洞庭湖来水在城陵矶汇入长江后与江水混合以至形成数十公里的混合带,至洪湖以下江段逐渐混合均匀     

Comparison between the Chinese EIA Guidelines for Air Dispersion Modelling and the Advanced Air Dispersion Model ADMS

1 INTRODUCTION According to the Environmental Protection Law of P.R. China, and the Environmental Protection Management Method on Construction Projects the Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (HJ/T 2.1~2. 3-93) have defined how environmental impact assessment should be carried out for construction projects, in terms of the general principle, methodology, contents and requirements. Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment on the Atmosphe…     

Modelling the role of humic acid in radiocaesium distribution in a British upland peat soil

The significance of exchange sites on organic matter in the retention of radiocaesium in highly organic soils remains unclear. To quantify this retention, we measured the binding of 134Cs to a humic acid isolated from a British upland peat soil, under a range of chemical conditions. We interpreted our results using Humic Ion Binding Model V, a model of humic substance chemistry which simulates ion exchange by non-specific accumulation of cations adjacent to the humic molecules. Model V could simulate the humic acid-solution partitioning of Cs under all the solution conditions used. The model was used to estimate the contribution of organic matter to Cs sorption by the whole soil composite. An estimate of Cs sorption by illite frayed edge sites was also made. These simulations show that organic matter may play only a minor role in binding Cs. even in highly organic soils.     

Elemental analysis of total suspended particulate matter in the ambient air of Baghdad

Samples of atmospheric particulate matter obtained from representative areas of the city of Baghdad were collected on glass fiber filters using a high-volume sampler. Atomic absorption techniques were used to analyze the total suspended particulates (TSP) for the following trace metals; Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cr, Cd, Co, and Hg. Sulfates were measured by turbidemetric method. Ion-selective electrodes was used for chloride analysis. It is concluded that the major components of TSP in the ambient air of Baghdad consist of mineral dust. Pb and Cd gave high enrichment factor values, which implies enrichment of these two metals from anthropogenic sources. High enrichment factors were also obtained for Zn and Cu. It is also concluded that in this arid area, the black smoke reflectance method is not suitable for measuring total suspended matter gravimetrically.     

Effectiveness of centralized bilge water treatment — a field study

Instrumentation and procedures were developed for gross and detailed characterization of oily wastewaters. The methodology was applied to the assessment of effectiveness of a centralized oily waste treatment facility. Generated data included total, dissolved, and suspended organic content and detailed chemical characteristics of oily water samples.The usefulness of the methodology was demonstrated in a real-life field study involving operation of a centralized oily waste treatment facility operated by the U.S. Army at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in 1976. It was found that the concentration of suspended organics ranged between 5 and 335 ppm and dissolved organics between 14 and 156 ppm in untreated bilge water.Treated bilge waste effluents contained essentially no suspended oil, but rather high (769–1262 ppm) amounts of dissolved organic matter.It was determined that physical methods of waste treatment based on gravity separation and coalescence are effective in removal of suspended petroleum, and that prolonged contact between an oil film and water results in water solubilization of petroleum, leading to very high concentrations of dissolved organic material in the treated effluent.     

A process-based model for the partitioning of soluble, suspended particulate and bed sediment fractions of plutonium and caesium in the eastern Irish Sea

A dynamic model of plutonium behaviour in the marine environment has been developed, representing the oxidation state distribution and partitioning of plutonium between the soluble, colloidal, suspended particulate and seabed sediment fractions. With simple re-parameterisation, this model can also be applied to (137)Cs. The model, which is calibrated and validated against field data, has been used to predict concentrations of Pu(alpha) and (137)Cs in both water and seabed sediments from the vicinity of the Sellafield Ltd. reprocessing plant in Cumbria, UK. The model predicts that sediment reworking and transport are the key environmental processes as the Sellafield Pu(alpha) and (137)Cs discharge continues to decline. Inventory calculations generated by the model are consistent with previous estimations. For a hypothetical post-discharge scenario, the concentrations of these radionuclides in both seawater and surface sediments are predicted to decrease sharply, concurrent with a downward vertical migration of the activity retained in sediments.