Estimation of the radioactive source dispersion from Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

• Atmospheric transport modelling is used to characterize the Fukushima source term.
• The emissions are reconstructed according to 133-Xe detections in Japan and China.
• Correlation of the estimated source terms to 137-Cs and 131-I detections.

Following the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident detections of 133Xe have been made in various locations. Using results of these remote measurements the Fukushima 133Xe source term has been reconstructed and compared with previously reconstructed 137Cs and 131I source terms. The reconstruction is accomplished by applying atmospheric transport modeling and an adapted least square error method. The obtained results are in agreement with previous estimations of the Fukushima radionuclide source, and also serve as a proof of principle for source term reconstruction based on atmospheric transport modeling.