A data assimilation methodology for the plume phase of a nuclear accident

In the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident and following more than ten years of research and development, the Real time On-line Decision Support system (RODOS) offers a wide range of alternatives to dealing in an effective and efficient fashion with an accidental release of radioactivity to the environment in Europe. The system is intended to provide assistance to decision-makers throughout the various phases of the accident, covering the plume phase (prediction of the atmospheric dispersion), the post-plume phase (assessing the impact of the contamination on the food chain through both aquatic and terrestrial pathways), and the evaluation of the effectiveness of countermeasures issued to protect the public and the environment against the hazards of ionizing radiation. In the framework of the European Commission's Nuclear Fission Programme, a research project on data assimilation has the task of introducing a practical improvement in the predictive capabilities of the RODOS system