Modelling the dispersion of radionuclides following short duration releases to rivers: Part 1. Water and sediment

Smith, J. T.; Bowes, M. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934; Denison, F. H.. 2006 Modelling the dispersion of radionuclides following short duration releases to rivers: Part 1. Water and sediment. Science of the Total Environment, 368. 485-501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.03.010

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.03.010

Abstract/Summary

This paper evaluates and generalises state-of-the-art approaches for modelling short duration liquid discharges of radionuclides (3H, 14C, 60Co, 134Cs, 137Cs, 65Zn, 89Sr, 90Sr, 125I, 131I, 241Am, isotopes of Pu and U) to rivers. An advection–dispersion model was parameterised and used to predict the concentrations of radionuclides in the river environment, i.e. in river water, river bed sediment and fish (Part II of this paper covers uptake to fish). The coupled transport and bio-uptake model was used to predict the concentrations of radionuclides in the River Thames, UK, and one of its tributaries as a result of hypothetical short duration discharges. A simplified version of this model was developed and presented as “look-up” graphs. The influence of various environmental parameters on model output was evaluated by sensitivity analysis. Time-integrated water and sediment concentrations and maximum sediment concentrations may be predicted for all rivers on the basis of the river volumetric flow rate only. Maximum concentration in water is, however, also dependent on other river characteristics. For this latter case, generalised modelling approaches are tested for use in situations where detailed hydrological and dispersion data are not available.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.03.010
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Water
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	_ River Ecology
ISSN:	0048-9697
Format Availability:	Electronic, Print
Additional Keywords:	radioactivity, river sediment, dispersion, advection
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	29 Jun 2007 12:53 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/466

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.03.010

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Water

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

_ River Ecology

ISSN:

0048-9697

Format Availability:

Electronic, Print