Statistical analysis of simulated oceanic dispersion of dissolved radionuclide hypothetically released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant using long-term oceanographic reanalysis data

Ikenoue, Tsubasa  ; Kawamura, Hideyuki  ; Kamidaira, Yuki   

We conducted numerical simulations on the oceanic dispersion of dissolved radionuclide hypothetically released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant using long-term oceanographic reanalysis data. We evaluated the characteristics and trends of dissolved radionuclide behavior in the ocean using statistical analysis based on the simulation results. The surface meridional current at the release point in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the Kuroshio Extension significantly affected the north-south transport of the surface radionuclide in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the eastward transport of the offshore surface radionuclide, respectively. Because the surface kinetic energy in the coastal to the offshore area was larger, the range of the dispersed surface radionuclide tended to be larger. In summer (July-September), the increased frequency radionuclide entrainment by the Kuroshio Extension because of the surface southward radionuclide transport in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the large surface kinetic energy caused a large dispersed surface radionuclide. In winter (January-March), the decreased frequency radionuclide entrainment by the Kuroshio Extension because of the surface northward radionuclide transport in the Fukushima coastal ocean and the small surface kinetic energy caused a small dispersed surface radionuclide.