On the Issue of the Main Directions of the ¹³⁷Cs Air Migration in the Exclusion Zone

V. K. Shynkarenko, M. M. Talerko

Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants,
NAS of Ukraine, 12, Lysohirska st., Kyiv, 03028, Ukraine

DOI: doi.org/10.31717/2311-8253.22.3.6

Abstract

Retrospective studies of the contribution of emissions from the Shelter object to the formation of the radioaerosol situation in the Exclusion Zone before the construction of the New Safe Confinement were conducted. An algorithm for estimating the average volumetric activity of 137Cs in the air depending on the wind direction is proposed based on data on the activity of air filters exposed in the monitoring posts of the ASKRO system. It was established that the predominant contributions to the arrival of radioactive aerosols in each of the six selected settlements in the Exclusion Zone in previous years were made by the winds of the northern group. It was found that the reliable periods of high activity transport did not always coincide with the wind direction from the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. From the absence of reliable correlations between wind speeds and the values of the 137Cs volumetric activity in the air, the same as from the presence of developed vegetation during periods of maximum activity, it was concluded that the wind resuspension processes have an insignificant contribution to the formation of the radioaerosol situation in the territory of the Exclusion Zone. It is assumed that forest fires make the most significant contribution to radioactive air pollution in this area

Keywords: Shelter object, 137Cs volume activity in the air, forest fires.

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