Impact of source term release characteristics of nuclear plant on the performance of EURDEP to identify radioactive plumes

Abstract This study aims at analysing the performance of the European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP) at identifying, delineating, and tracking different radioactivity clouds moving across a territory. To this purpose, the atmospheric dispersion of 21 hypothetical STs, calculated by the Modular Accident Analysis Program (MAAP) code, has been simulated under the same meteorological scenario by the JAVA-based RODOS decision support system (JRODOS). EURDEP's performance is evaluated using spatial and temporal parameters. The present analysis shows a large impact of the total amount of activity and the timing of the release peak on EURDEP's performance. Monitoring stations are able to detect quite rapidly the release (first alarm), and presents more variation in the time needed to detect the peak, and to delineate and track the plume. A two-dimensional analysis is suggested to illustrate strengths and weaknesses of EURDEP to face different types of STs. These results highlight the need to link the understanding of ST characteristics with meteorological conditions to limit the environmental and health effects associated with radioactive emissions into the atmosphere. The present study aims at presenting a methodology to analyse the performance of EURDEP in other territories.