October 22, 2024
Journal Article

Source Term Estimation Using Noble Gas and Aerosol Samples

Abstract

Algorithms that estimate the location, time, and magnitude of a point-source atmospheric release using remotely sampled air concentrations typically use data for a single chemical or radioactive isotope. A Bayesian algorithm is presented that uses data from multiple radioactive isotopes that are all released in the same short-duration event. Data from noble gas and aerosol samplers can be used simultaneously in the model. Application to a large synthetic data set using four isotopes shows the new algorithm generally gives more accurate location and time estimates than a comparable model using a single isotope.

Published: October 22, 2024

Citation

Eslinger P.W., and B.D. Milbrath. 2024. Source Term Estimation Using Noble Gas and Aerosol Samples. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 280, no. _:Art. No. 107544. PNNL-SA-200262. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107544

Research topics