Seasonal Variation of Thermal Effluents Dispersion from Kori Nuclear Power Plant Derived from Satellite Data

In this study, we investigated the seasonal variation of SST(Sea Surface Temperature) and thermal effluents estimated by using Landsat-7 ETM+ around the Kori Nuclear Power Plant for 10 years(2000~2010). Also, we analyzed the direction and range of thermal effluents dispersion by the tidal current and tide. The results are as follows, First, we figured out the algorithm to estimate SST through the linear regression analysis of Landsat DN(Digital Number) and NOAA SST. And then, the SST was verified by compared with the in situ measurement and NOAA SST. The determination coefficient is 0.97 and root mean square error is . Second, the SST distribution of Landsat-7 estimated by linear regression equation showed in winter, in spring, and and in summer and fall. The difference of between SST and thermal effluents temperature is except for the summer season. The difference of SST is up to in August. There is hardly any dispersion of thermal effluents in August. When it comes to the spread range of thermal effluents, the rise range of more than in the sea surface temperature showed up to 7.56km from east to west and 8.43km from north to south. The maximum spread area was . It is expected that the findings of this study will be used as the foundational data for marine environment monitoring on the area around the nuclear power plant.