Atmospheric Dispersion Unknown Source Parameters Determination Using AERMOD and Bayesian Inference Along Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Occurance of hazarious accident in nuclear power plants and industrial units usually lead to release of radioactive materials and pollutants in environment. These materials and pollutants can be transported to a far downstream by the wind flow. In this paper, we implemented an atmospheric dispersion code to solve the inverse problem. Having received and detected the pollutants in one region, we may estimate the rate and location of the unknown source. For the modeling, one needs a model with ability of atmospheric dispersion calculation. Furthermore, it is required to implement a mathematical approach to infer the source location and the related rates. In this paper the AERMOD software and Bayesian inference along the Markov Chain Monte Carlo have been applied. Implementing, Bayesian approach and Markov Chain Monte Carlo for the aforementioned subject is not a new approach, but the AERMOD model coupled with the said methods is a new and well known regulatory software, and enhances the reliability of outcomes. To evaluate the method, an example is considered by defining pollutants concentration in a specific region and then obtaining the source location and intensity by a direct calculation. The result of the caluclation estimates the average source location at a distance of 7km with an accuracy of 5m which is good enough to support the ability of the proposed algorithm.