Oceanic dispersion of Fukushima-derived Cs-137 simulated by multiple oceanic general circulation models

Kawamura, Hideyuki; Furuno, Akiko; Kobayashi, Takuya; In, Teiji*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Ishikawa, Yoichi*; Miyazawa, Yasumasa*; Usui, Norihisa*

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 180, p.36 - 58, 2017/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.09.020

This study simulates the oceanic dispersion of Fukushima-derived Cs-137 by an oceanic dispersion model and multiple oceanic general circulation models. The models relatively well reproduced the observed Cs-137 concentrations in the coastal, offshore, and open oceans. Multiple simulations in the coastal, offshore, and open oceans consistently suggested that Cs-137 dispersed along the coast in the north-south direction during the first few months post-disaster, and were subsequently dispersed offshore by the Kuroshio Current and Kuroshio Extension. Quantification of the Cs-137 amounts suggested that Cs-137 actively dispersed from the coastal and offshore oceans to the open ocean, and from the surface layer to the deeper layers in the North Pacific.

Preliminary numerical experiments on Oceanic dispersion of I and Cs discharged into the ocean because of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster

Kawamura, Hideyuki; Kobayashi, Takuya; Furuno, Akiko; In, Teiji*; Ishikawa, Yoichi*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Shima, Shigeki*; Awaji, Toshiyuki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 48(11), p.1349 - 1356, 2011/11

AA2011-0314.pdf:0.68MB

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.48.1349

Numerical experiments were carried out to predict the spreading of I and Cs released into the ocean due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident. Results in the numerical experiments were in good agreement with the concentrations of I and Cs in the monitoring data. It was suggested that the high I concentration detected in the young lancefish caught off Kitaibaraki city was due to the deposition from the atmosphere. The numerical experiments suggest that the deposition of radionuclides released into the atmosphere in the middle March largely effected the concentrations of radionuclides east of Japan in the Pacific Ocean.

Improvement of the marine radionuclides prediction code in the off Shimokita Region

Kobayashi, Takuya; Togawa, Orihiko; Ito, Toshimichi; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Kawamura, Hideyuki; Hayashi, Keisuke*; Shima, Shigeki*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; In, Teiji*

JAEA-Research 2009-040, 63 Pages, 2009/12

JAEA-Research-2009-040.pdf:12.19MB

A spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant has the possibility of routine releases of liquid radioactive wastes from a discharge pipe to the off Shimokita region during its operations. Thus, for environmental safety, it is important to assess the migration processes of released radionuclides from the plant. Therefore, an ocean circulation prediction code and an oceanic radionuclides migration prediction code, which were developed by Japan Atomic Energy Agency, has been improved to describe the migration behavior of radionuclides in the off Shimokita region. Parameters on characteristics and dynamics of particulate materials in seawater have also been obtained in the study area for the adjustment and verification of the oceanic radionuclides migration prediction code. This report summarizes the primary results of the study which was carried out at the off Shimokita region from FY2003 to 2008.

Variation of volume transport of the Tsugaru Warm Current in the period from 2000 to 2002

Ito, Toshimichi; Kawamura, Hideyuki; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Shima, Shigeki*; Onishi, Mitsuyo*; Isoda, Yutaka*

Proceedings of International Workshop on Monitoring and Forecasting of the Rapid Change in Ocean-Atmosphere Environment in the East Asia, p.13 - 14, 2007/11

The volume transport of the Tsugaru Warm Current (TgWC) from April 2000 to June 2002, which was estimated based on the ferry-borne ADCP observation was examined in this study. The estimated transport varied from about 0.6 Sv to 2.5 Sv (=10 ms), and the mean value was estimated to be about 1.3 Sv with 0.3 Sv showing the similar level as that in the preliminary result. The temporal variation with a period of about 20-30 days seemed to be remarkable in the anterior half of this observation period rather than seasonal variation. By contrast, the seasonal variation was dominant in the posterior half in which the minimum and maximum values appear in the spring and autumn, respectively. The temporal change of the transport showed good correlation with the sea level differences around the strait as expected. In addition, the present result suggests that the change of local wind around the strait also lead in part of the change of the transport.

The Oceanic forecasting system near the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan

In, Teiji*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Matsuura, Yasutaka*; Shima, Shigeki*; Ishikawa, Yoichi*; Awaji, Toshiyuki*; Kobayashi, Takuya; Kawamura, Hideyuki; Togawa, Orihiko; Toyoda, Takahiro*

Proceedings of International Symposium on Environmental Modeling and Radioecology, p.58 - 64, 2007/03

The northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean off the Shimokita Peninsula assumes a complex water mass structure. It is necessary to accurately reproduce the striking circulation patterns and the complicated water mass structures in this area with an ocean general circulation model. We have planned to make use of a one-way nesting method. To initialize the forecast system, we use a 4-dimensional variational method of data assimilation. The assimilated data consist of hydrographic observations collected through the Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program, sea surface temperature and sea surface height data observed by satellites. A forecast experiment on the basis of oceanographic observations made in 2003 illustrates the good performance of our system. We shall focus, in particular, on the shift from the coastal mode to the gyre mode and vice versa.

Examination of Harmonic analysis methods using semi-regular sampling data from an ADCP installed on a regular ferry; Evaluation of tidal and residual currents in the eastern mouth of the Tsugaru strait

Kuroda, Hiroshi*; Isoda, Yutaka*; Onishi, Mitsuyo*; Iwahashi, Masayuki*; Sato, Chizuru*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Ito, Toshimichi; Iseda, Kenichi*; Nishizawa, Keisuke*; Shima, Shigeki*; et al.

Umi No Kenkyu, 13(6), p.553 - 564, 2004/11

https://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110003377787

no abstracts in English

Variation of velocity and volume transport of the Tsugaru warm current in the winter of 1999-2000

Ito, Toshimichi; Togawa, Orihiko; Onishi, Mitsuyo*; Isoda, Yutaka*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Shima, Shigeki*; Kuroda, Hiroshi*; Iwahashi, Masayuki*; Sato, Chizuru*

Geophysical Research Letters, 30(13), p.11_1 - 11_4, 2003/10

The variation of velocity and volume transport of the Tsugaru Warm Current (TWC) is investigated based on the data of continuous and cross-sectional current monitoring in the Tsugaru Strait. During November 1999 - March 2000, the structure of the velocity transection across the strait was almost stable in which the TWC occupied the central part of the strait, while the returning flows existed in the northern and southern part of the strait, and these indicate a totally declining trend. The volume transport of the TWC varies from 2.1 to 1.1 Sv, with the mean value of 1.5 Sv, following the variation of the TWC. The temporal variation of the volume transport shows a linear correlation with that of the sea level difference between the Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The contribution of the sea level difference to the volume transport is estimated to be roughly 70 %.

Variation of volume transport in the Tsugaru Strait; An Estimation for the years 2004-2007

Ito, Toshimichi; Kawamura, Hideyuki; Onishi, Mitsuyo*; Isoda, Yutaka*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Shima, Shigeki*

no journal, , 

no abstracts in English

Intercomparison of oceanic dispersion simulations on the Fukushima-derived Cs

Kawamura, Hideyuki; Furuno, Akiko; Kobayashi, Takuya; In, Teiji*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Ishikawa, Yoichi*; Miyazawa, Yasumasa*; Usui, Norihisa*

no journal, , 

Oceanic dispersion simulations include errors originated from source terms, oceanographic data, etc. In this study, the oceanic dispersion simulations were carried out with five oceanographic data in order to analyze an effect of oceanographic data on Cs dispersion and clarify Cs dispersion in the coastal area and the open ocean. The high-resolution simulation could well reproduce the observed Cs concentration in Fukushima Prefecture and it suggested that directly-released Cs into the ocean dispersed in the north-south direction during a few months after the Fukushima disaster. The relatively low-resolution simulations could reproduce main currents in the North Pacific and they suggested that the Kuroshio Extension played an important role on Cs transport from the coastal area to the open ocean. Moreover, it was demonstrated that Cs was transported from the mixed layer to the deeper layer 1 year after the Fukushima disaster.

Oceanic dispersion of Fukushima-derived Cs-137 in the coastal, offshore, and open oceans simulated by multiple oceanic general circulation models

Kawamura, Hideyuki; Furuno, Akiko; Kobayashi, Takuya; In, Teiji*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Ishikawa, Yoichi*; Miyazawa, Yasumasa*; Usui, Norihisa*

no journal, , 

This study simulates the oceanic dispersion of Fukushima-derived Cs-137 by an oceanic dispersion model SEA-GEARN-FDM and multiple oceanic general circulation models. The oceanic dispersion simulations relatively well reproduced the measured Cs-137 concentrations in the coastal and offshore oceans during the first few months after the Fukushima disaster, and in the open ocean during the first year post-disaster. It was suggested that Cs-137 dispersed along the coast in the north-south direction during the first few months post-disaster, and were subsequently dispersed offshore by the Kuroshio Current and Kuroshio Extension. The Cs-137 amounts were quantified in the coastal, offshore, and open oceans during the first year post-disaster. It was demonstrated that Cs-137 actively dispersed from the coastal and offshore oceans to the open ocean, and from the surface layer to the deeper layer in the North Pacific.