11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
[MAG33-07] Impacts of riverine input on oceanic 137Cs derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
Keywords:Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident, Regional Ocean Model, Radioactive caesium , Riverine input
A series of accidents at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 resulted in the release of radioactive materials to the ocean by two major pathways: direct release from the accident site and atmospheric deposition. A 6 years, regional-scale simulation of 137Cs activity in the ocean offshore of Fukushima was carried out by the Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS), the sources of radioactivity being direct release, atmospheric deposition, the inflow of 137Cs deposited into the ocean by atmospheric deposition outside the domain of the model, and river discharges.
Direct releases of 137Cs were estimated for 6 years after the accident by comparing simulated results and measured activities adjacent to the accident site. In addition, river discharge rates 137Cs were calculated by multiplication between river flow rate and 137Cs activity. River flow rates were simulated by a water circulation analysis model for each catchment. Temporal change of 137Cs activity both of particle and dissolved forms were measured at 8 rivers and normalized by the inventory of 137Cs in each catchment. 137Cs activity in other 4 rivers were estimated by the normalized 137Cs activity and inventories of catchments. After 2013, direct release and river discharge were dominant for input of 137Cs to the ocean. Apparent half-life of direct release and river discharge of were estimated to be about 1 year and 2 years, respectively.
Apparent half-life of measured 137Cs activity adjacent to 1F NPP was about 1 year, on the other hand, the ones in the coastal zone away from 1F NPP were about 2 years after 2013. Apparent half-life of simulated results with river discharge was in good agreement with the one in the coastal zone away from 1F NPP. River discharge affected on temporal change of 137Cs activity there. On the other hands, simulated 137Cs activities with river input were one order of magnitudes smaller than observations. This underestimation suggests modifications of river input process, such as estuary mixing process, removal from particle form 137Cs and inputs from small rivers around the 1F NPP.
Direct releases of 137Cs were estimated for 6 years after the accident by comparing simulated results and measured activities adjacent to the accident site. In addition, river discharge rates 137Cs were calculated by multiplication between river flow rate and 137Cs activity. River flow rates were simulated by a water circulation analysis model for each catchment. Temporal change of 137Cs activity both of particle and dissolved forms were measured at 8 rivers and normalized by the inventory of 137Cs in each catchment. 137Cs activity in other 4 rivers were estimated by the normalized 137Cs activity and inventories of catchments. After 2013, direct release and river discharge were dominant for input of 137Cs to the ocean. Apparent half-life of direct release and river discharge of were estimated to be about 1 year and 2 years, respectively.
Apparent half-life of measured 137Cs activity adjacent to 1F NPP was about 1 year, on the other hand, the ones in the coastal zone away from 1F NPP were about 2 years after 2013. Apparent half-life of simulated results with river discharge was in good agreement with the one in the coastal zone away from 1F NPP. River discharge affected on temporal change of 137Cs activity there. On the other hands, simulated 137Cs activities with river input were one order of magnitudes smaller than observations. This underestimation suggests modifications of river input process, such as estuary mixing process, removal from particle form 137Cs and inputs from small rivers around the 1F NPP.