This course gives an intense immersive experience that includes calculation, analysis, and evaluation of the atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials released by nuclear and radiological disaster such as nuclear accidents or nuclear terrorism. Students will learn environmental dynamics including small-scale dispersion of radioactive materials caused by nuclear security incidents such as sabotage and RDD (Radiological Dispersal Device) use, and large-scale dispersion by nuclear power plant accidents. The class lectures cover radioactive material release, atmospheric dispersion models, water environmental dynamics, biological effects, and nuclear disaster regulation system. The exercises include 1) dispersion of radioactive materials from nuclear terrorism (small-scale dispersion); calculations using a simple plume model and a fast field-portable code for emergency response, and 2) dispersion of radioactive materials from nuclear power plant accidents (large-scale dispersion); simulations using a system for prediction of environmental emergency dose information. This course aims to help students quantitatively understand the characteristics of factors (meteorological condition, source term, and geographical features) influencing on the small-scale and large-scale dispersion of radioactive materials, and provide them with the immediate response capability needed to adequately respond to such nuclear disaster. In addition, students will understand the importance of immediate protection and evacuation of residents in nuclear disaster from their calculation and evaluation results.
By taking this course, students will learn;
1) Comprehensive and systematic thinking and responding capability to atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials released by nuclear disaster such as nuclear accidents or nuclear terrorism
2) Technological capability necessary for quick nuclear disaster response (calculation and evaluation of atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials)
3) Importance of immediate protection and evacuation of residents in nuclear disaster
Radioactive Material Dispersion, Atmospheric Dispersion, Nuclear Accident, Nuclear Terrorism
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Prior to conducting each exercise, related lectures are given to learn the objectives and necessary knowledge of the exercise.
Each exercise is conducted using one exercise laptop per student. After the each exercise, the exercise results are summarized and presented, and discussed comprehensively.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Release and Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism or Nuclear Accidents | Understand the fundamentals of release and dispersion of radioactive materials from nuclear terrorism and accidents. |
Class 2 | Biological Effects of Radioactive Materials | Understand the stochastic and deterministic effects of radioactive materials, and learn about external and internal exposure evaluation. |
Class 3 | Decontamination of Radioactive Materials | Understand decontamination and disposal of contaminated water and soil |
Class 4 | Nuclear and Radiological Disaster Response | Understand Japan's regulation system for nuclear and radiological disaster response. |
Class 5 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - How to Calculate Atmospheric Dispersion Using a Simple Plume Model | Learn how to calculate atmospheric dispersion using a simple plume model. |
Class 6 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Nuclear Terrorism Scenarios and Atmospheric Dispersion Calculations with the Plume Model | Set up a nuclear terrorism scenario and calculate atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials using the plume model. |
Class 7 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Use of the Field-Portable Atmospheric Dispersion Code for Emergency Response | Learn how to use HotSpot code. |
Class 8 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Atmospheric Dispersion Calculations for the Scenarios Using the Code | Calculate atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials for the scenario using HotSpot code . |
Class 9 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Comparative Analysis and Evaluation (1) | Compare and evaluate the calculation results, and prepare presentation and discussion (1). |
Class 10 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Comparative Analysis and Evaluation (2) | Compare and evaluate the calculation results, and prepare presentation and discussion (2). |
Class 11 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Presentation and Discussion (1) | Make presentations and discussions of the exercise results (1) |
Class 12 | Exercise 1: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from Nuclear Terrorism - Presentation and Discussion (2) | Make presentations and discussions of the exercise results (2) |
Class 13 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Atmospheric Dispersion and Deposition of Radioactive Materials from the Fukushima NPP Accident | Understand the process of atmospheric dispersion and deposition of radioactive materials from the Fukushima NPP accident. |
Class 14 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Use of the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information | Learn how to use WSPEEDI-II code. |
Class 15 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Atmospheric Dispersion Calculations for the Reference Scenario at Fukushima | Simulate atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials for the reference scenario using WSPEEDI-II code. |
Class 16 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Atmospheric Dispersion Calculations for the Individual Scenario with Different Weather Conditions | Simulate atmospheric dispersion of radioactive materials for the individual scenario using WSPEEDI-II code. |
Class 17 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Comparative Analysis and Evaluation (1) | Compare and evaluate the simulation results, and prepare presentation and discussion (1). |
Class 18 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Comparative Analysis and Evaluation (2) | Compare and evaluate the simulation results, and prepare presentation and discussion (2). |
Class 19 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Presentation and Discussion (1) | Make presentations and discussions of the exercise results (1) |
Class 20 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Presentation and Discussion (2) | Make presentations and discussions of the exercise results (2) |
Class 21 | Exercise 2: Atmospheric Dispersion of Radioactive Materials from NPP Accidents - Presentation and Discussion (3) | Make presentations and discussions of the exercise results (3) |
Not specified
References:
- Steven G. HOMANN and Fernando ALUZZI, “HotSpot Health Physics Codes Version 3.0 User’s Guide,” National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL-SM-636474, 2014.
- Chika NAKANISH, Sohei SATO, Akiko FURUNO, Hiroaki TERADA, Haruyasu NAGAI, and Shige MUTO, “WSPEEDI-II System User's Manual for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency,” Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, JAEA-Technology 2011-005, 2011.
Course Materials:
Handouts will be distributed before or at the beginning of each class when necessary.
Activities in Class (30%), Achievements of Exercise Missions (30%), Presentation and Discussion on Exercise Results (20%), and Homework Assignments (20%)
A limit number of students permitted