Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: Vegetation fires, smoke emissions, and dispersion of radionuclides in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Author: Hao, Wei Min; Bondarenko, Oleg O.; Zibtsev, Sergiy; Hutton, Diane

Date: 2009

Source: In: Bytnerowicz, A.; Arbaugh, M.; Riebau, A.; Andersen, C., eds. Developments in environmental science, Volume 8: Wildland fires and air pollution. The Netherlands: Elsevier: 265-275.

Description: The accident of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP) in 1986 was probably the worst environmental disaster in the past 30 years. The fallout and accumulation of radionuclides in the soil and vegetation could have long-term impacts on the environment. Radionuclides released during large, catastrophic vegetation fires could spread to continental Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia. The potential for large fires occurring in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (EZ) was assessed based on vegetation conditions. We reviewed the composition of radionuclides in the soil and vegetation and in the particulate matter emitted by fires. The highest atmospheric radionuclide 137Cs levels occurred in early spring and late fall, corresponding to the most intense periods of burning in the EZ. It is evident from satellite images that smoke plumes from the EZ and southern Ukraine dispersed several hundred kilometers from the active fires and reached a major metropolitan area. We propose to install a satellite receiving station to detect fires in real time. It is also essential to develop a smoke dispersion and air quality forecasting model to predict the radioactivity levels downwind from catastrophic fires in order to protect public health.

Keywords: radionuclides, Chernobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP), Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (EZ), smoke dispersion

View and Print this Publication (559.73 KB)

Publication Notes: 

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

 Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility

Citation

Hao, Wei Min; Bondarenko, Oleg O.; Zibtsev, Sergiy; Hutton, Diane  2009.  Vegetation fires, smoke emissions, and dispersion of radionuclides in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.   In: Bytnerowicz, A.; Arbaugh, M.; Riebau, A.; Andersen, C., eds. Developments in environmental science, Volume 8: Wildland fires and air pollution. The Netherlands: Elsevier: 265-275..