Genki Katata

Preliminary Estimation of Release Amounts of 131I and 137Cs Accidentally Discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Atmosphere

(2011). Preliminary Estimation of Release Amounts of 131I and 137Cs Accidentally Discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Atmosphere. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology: Vol. 48, No. 7, pp. 1129-1134.

Atmospheric discharge and dispersion of radionuclides during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Part II: verification of the source term and analysis of regional-scale atmospheric dispersion.

Regional-scale atmospheric dispersion simulations were carried out to verify the source term of (131)I and (137)Cs estimated in our previous studies, and to analyze the atmospheric dispersion and surface deposition during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The accuracy of the source term was evaluated by comparing the simulation results with measurements of daily and monthly surface depositions (fallout) over land in eastern Japan from March 12 to April 30, 2011. The source term was refined using observed air concentrations of radionuclides for periods when there were significant discrepancies between the calculated and measured daily surface deposition, and when environmental monitoring data, which had not been used in our previous studies, were now available. The daily surface deposition using the refined source term was predicted mostly to within a factor of 10, and without any apparent bias. Considering the errors in the model prediction, the estimated source term is reasonably accurate during the period when the plume flowed over land in Japan. The analysis of regional-scale atmospheric dispersion and deposition suggests that the present distribution of a large amount of (137)Cs deposition in eastern Japan was produced primarily by four events that occurred on March 12, 15-16, 20, and 21-23. The ratio of wet deposition to the total varied widely depending on the influence by the particular event.

Numerical reconstruction of high dose rate zones due to the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

To understand how the high dose rate zones were created during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP1) accident on March 2011, the atmospheric dispersion of radionuclides during the period from 15 to 17 March was reproduced by using a computer-based nuclear emergency response system, WSPEEDI-II. With use of limited environmental monitoring data, prediction accuracy of meteorological and radiological fields by the system was improved to obtain best estimates of release rates, radiation dose maps, and plume movements. A large part of current high dose rate zones in Fukushima was explained by simulated surface deposition of radionuclides due to major releases of radionuclides on 15 March. In the simulation, the highest dose rate zones to the northwest of FNPP1 were created by a significant deposition of radionuclides discharged from FNPP1 during the afternoon. The results indicate that two environmental factors, i.e., rainfall and topography, strongly affected the spatial patterns of surface deposition of radionuclides. The wet deposition due to rainfall particularly played an important role in the formation of wide and heterogeneous distributions of high dose rate zones. The simulation also demonstrated that the radioactive plume flowed along the valleys to its leeward, which can expand the areas of a large amount of surface deposition in complex topography.

Ozone-induced stomatal sluggishness changes carbon and water balance of temperate deciduous forests

Tropospheric ozone concentrations have increased by 60–100% in the Northern Hemisphere since the 19th century. The phytotoxic nature of ozone can impair forest productivity. In addition, ozone affects stomatal functions, by both favoring stomatal closure and impairing stomatal control. Ozone-induced stomatal sluggishness, i.e., a delay in stomatal responses to fluctuating stimuli, has the potential to change the carbon and water balance of forests. This effect has to be included in models for ozone risk assessment. Here we examine the effects of ozone-induced stomatal sluggishness on carbon assimilation and transpiration of temperate deciduous forests in the Northern Hemisphere in 2006-2009 by combining a detailed multi-layer land surface model and a global atmospheric chemistry model. An analysis of results by ozone FACE (Free-Air Controlled Exposure) experiments suggested that ozone-induced stomatal sluggishness can be incorporated into modelling based on a simple parameter (gmin, minimum stomatal conductance) which is used in the coupled photosynthesis-stomatal model. Our simulation showed that ozone can decrease water use efficiency, i.e., the ratio of net CO2 assimilation to transpiration, of temperate deciduous forests up to 20% when ozone-induced stomatal sluggishness is considered, and up to only 5% when the stomatal sluggishness is neglected.

Development of a Land Surface Model Including Cloud Water Deposition on Vegetation

Abstract A land surface model including cloud (fog) water deposition on vegetation was developed to better predict the heat and water exchanges between the biosphere and atmosphere. A new scheme to calculate cloud water deposition on vegetation was implemented in this model. High performance of the model was confirmed by comparison of calculated heat and cloud water flux over a forest with measurements. The new model provided a better prediction of measured turbulent and gravitational fluxes of cloud water over the canopy than the commonly used cloud water deposition model. In addition, simple linear relationships between wind speed over the canopy (|U|) and deposition velocity of cloud water (Vdep) were found both in measurements and in the calculations. Numerical experiments using the model were performed to study the influences of two types of leaves (needle and broad leaves) and canopy structure parameters (total leaf area index and canopy height) on Vdep. When the size of broad leaves is small, they ...

Development of a Land Surface Model Including Evaporation and Adsorption Processes in the Soil for the Land–Air Exchange in Arid Regions

Abstract A one-dimensional soil model has been developed to better predict heat and water exchanges in arid and semiarid regions. New schemes to calculate evaporation and adsorption in the soil were incorporated in the model. High performance of the model was confirmed by comparison of predicted surface fluxes, soil temperature, and volumetric soil water content with those measured in the Negev Desert, Israel. Evaporation and adsorption processes in the soil have a large impact on the heat and water exchange between the atmosphere and land surface and are necessary to accurately predict them. Numerical experiments concerning the drying process of soil are performed using the presented model and a commonly used land surface model. The results indicated that, when the dry soil layer (DSL) develops, water vapor flux to the atmosphere is caused by evaporation in the soil rather than evaporation at the ground surface. Moreover, the adsorption process has some impact on the water and heat balance at the ground ...

Fogwater deposition modeling for terrestrial ecosystems: A review of developments and measurements

Recent progress in modeling fogwater (and low cloud water) deposition over terrestrial ecosystems during fogwater droplet interception by vegetative surfaces is reviewed. Several types of models and parameterizations for fogwater deposition are discussed with comparing assumptions, input parameter requirements, and modeled processes. The relationships among deposition velocity of fogwater (Vd) in model results, wind speed, and plant species structures associated with literature values are gathered for model validation. Quantitative comparisons between model results and observations in forest environments revealed differences as large as 2 orders of magnitude, which are likely caused by uncertainties in measurement techniques over heterogeneous landscapes. Results from the literature review show that Vd values ranged from 2.1 to 8.0 cm s−1 for short vegetation, whereas Vd = 7.7–92 cm s−1 and 0–20 cm s−1 for forests measured by throughfall-based methods and the eddy covariance method, respectively. This review also discusses the current understanding of the impacts of fogwater deposition on atmosphere-land interactions and over complex terrain based on results from numerical studies. Lastly, future research priorities in innovative modeling and observational approaches for model validation are outlined.

Montane ecosystem productivity responds more to global circulation patterns than climatic trends

Regional ecosystem productivity is highly sensitive to inter-annual climate variability, both within and outside the primary carbon uptake period. However, Earth system models lack sufficient spatial scales and ecosystem processes to resolve how these processes may change in a warming climate. Here, we show, how for the European Alps, mid-latitude Atlantic ocean winter circulation anomalies drive high-altitude summer forest and grassland productivity, through feedbacks among orographic wind circulation patterns, snowfall, winter and spring temperatures, and vegetation activity. Therefore, to understand future global climate change influence to regional ecosystem productivity, Earth systems models need to focus on improvements towards topographic downscaling of changes in regional atmospheric circulation patterns and to lagged responses in vegetation dynamics to non-growing season climate anomalies.

Utilization of 134 Cs/ 137 Cs in the environment to identify the reactor units that caused atmospheric releases during the Fukushima Daiichi accident

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power reactor units that generated large amounts of airborne discharges during the period of March 12–21, 2011 were identified individually by analyzing the combination of measured 134Cs/137Cs depositions on ground surfaces and atmospheric transport and deposition simulations. Because the values of 134Cs/137Cs are different in reactor units owing to fuel burnup differences, the 134Cs/137Cs ratio measured in the environment was used to determine which reactor unit ultimately contaminated a specific area. Atmospheric dispersion model simulations were used for predicting specific areas contaminated by each dominant release. Finally, by comparing the results from both sources, the specific reactor units that yielded the most dominant atmospheric release quantities could be determined. The major source reactor units were Unit 1 in the afternoon of March 12, 2011, Unit 2 during the period from the late night of March 14 to the morning of March 15, 2011. These results corresponded to those assumed in our previous source term estimation studies. Furthermore, new findings suggested that the major source reactors from the evening of March 15, 2011 were Units 2 and 3 and that the dominant source reactor on March 20, 2011 temporally changed from Unit 3 to Unit 2.

Source Term Estimation of 131I and 137Cs Discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Atmosphere

It is urgent to assess the radiological dose to the public resulting from the month-long discharge of radioactive materials into the atmosphere from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan in March 2011. To do this task, computer simulations on the dispersion of radioactive materials in the environment are useful. However, the source term essential to computer simulations was not available. Thus, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been trying to estimate the source term of iodine and cesium discharged to the atmosphere. As the first step, the source term was preliminary estimated by coupling environmental monitoring data with atmospheric dispersion simulations. The release rates and total amounts of 131I and 137Cs discharged into the atmosphere were estimated for the period from 12 March to 5 April, 2011. Then, detailed analysis on the local atmospheric dispersion around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was carried out, revealing the formation process of high dose rate zones in a northwest direction from the plant. With this and further analyses for the early phase of the accident, the release rates and total amounts of 131I and 137Cs discharged into the atmosphere were reestimated for the period from 12 to 15 March 2011. Finally, the validity of the revised source term was examined by comparing daily and monthly surface deposition (fallout) over land in eastern Japan between measurements and outputs from the regional-scale atmospheric dispersion simulation.