Source term estimation of radioxenon released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactors using measured air concentrations and atmospheric transport modeling

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 2014-01, Vol.127, p.127-132
• Main Authors: Eslinger, P.W., Biegalski, S.R., Bowyer, T.W., Cooper, M.W., Haas, D.A., Hayes, J.C., Hoffman, I., Korpach, E., Yi, J., Miley, H.S., Rishel, J.P., Ungar, K., White, B., Woods, V.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 133Xe; Air Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; Applied sciences; ATM; Atmosphere; Atmospheric modeling; Atmospheric pollution; atmospheric transport modeling; Atmospherics; Estimates; Exact sciences and technology; Fukushima; Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; IMS; international monitoring system; Models, Theoretical; Nuclear accidents; Nuclear reactor components; Nuclear reactors; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Radiation Monitoring - methods; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; Radioactive Fallout - analysis; Radioactivity; radioxenon; Seismic phenomena; Source term estimation; Transport; Xenon Radioisotopes - analysis
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.013

Systems designed to monitor airborne radionuclides released from underground nuclear explosions detected radioactive fallout across the northern hemisphere resulting from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. Sampling data from multiple International Modeling System locations are combined with atmospheric transport modeling to estimate the magnitude and time sequence of releases of 133Xe. Modeled dilution factors at five different detection locations were combined with 57 atmospheric concentration measurements of 133Xe taken from March 18 to March 23 to estimate the source term. This analysis suggests that 92% of the 1.24 × 1019 Bq of 133Xe present in the three operating reactors at the time of the earthquake was released to the atmosphere over a 3 d period. An uncertainty analysis bounds the release estimates to 54–129% of available 133Xe inventory. •We estimate the airborne release of 133Xe from three Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plants.•Combining measurements from multiple locations improves the accuracy of the release estimate.•The estimated time history of releases is consistent with reported reactor venting and explosion times.•Release of 133Xe is 92% of reactor inventory at the time of the earthquake, with a plausible range from 54% to 129%.