Estudio de la dinámica de la radiactividad atmosférica en Cáceres

Abstract

The main goal of this study is the analysis of the dynamics of the atmospheric radioactivity in Cáceres, in order to observe and model the time evolution of the radionuclide concentration in it. The radionuclides of interest have different source term: cosmogenic (3H, 7,10Be, 22Na), naturally occurring (40K, 210Pb, 2434,238U, 226Ra and 228,230,232Th) and anthropogenic (90Sr, 137Cs 239+240Pu, 241Am and 3H). Regarding 3H, its concentration was determined by different methods of measurement, obtaining coincident results. Its seasonal variability depends on meteorological parameters, such as solar radiation, humidity and rainfall. They were able to explain most of the variability. These parameters also had a great influence on the seasonal variation of other radionuclides, regardless of its source term: cosmogenic, naturally occurring or anthropogenic. The analysis of these variations had great utility on the analysis of the radiological influence of point events, such as the accident in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, in which activity levels much lower than the reference levels for mandatory communication to the Nuclear Safety Board were detected.