> Research Highlight:
ARL Provides Support for International Nuclear Emergency Response Exercise
Research Highlight:
ARL Provides Support for International Nuclear Emergency Response Exercise
An international nuclear emergency response exercise dubbed
Conventional Exercises (or ConvEx-3) will take place on July 9 - 10
based on a hypothetical accident at Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in
Veracruz, Mexico. The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Regional
Specialized Meteorological Centers (RSMC) in Montreal Canada and
Washington DC will produce atmospheric transport and dispersion
products, which will predict the path of the hypothetical radioactive
plume. RSMC Washington is a joint activity between ARL, which provides
the transport and dispersion modeling research, and the National Centers
for Environmental Prediction, which provides the operational support.
The exercise also will test the use of new password-protected web pages
being developed by ARL for WMO member countries to access the model
products.
RSMCs specializing in atmospheric transport modeling,
upon official request, provide pollutant transport and dispersion
forecasts to National Meteorological Services of WMO member countries
and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the event of a
nuclear accident. The IAEA coordinates the Inter-Agency Committee on
Response to Nuclear Accidents (IACRNA), which is responsible for the
Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International
Organizations. The IACRNA's Working Group on Coordination of
International Exercises plans and evaluates the involvement of the
International Organizations in exercises, primarily through a series of
Convention Exercises (or ConvEx). ConvEx-3 exercises are conducted once
every 4 or 5 years. The last exercise involved an accident in Romania.
For that location RSMC's Exeter (United Kingdom) and Toulouse (France)
provided the atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling.
A nuclear accident, such as occurred at Chernobyl, would have large
potential health and economic implications. Understanding where
radioactive substances will go is important for mitigating those risks.
The ConvEx-3 is the most comprehensive class of international exercises
under the International Conventions that tests the responsibilities and
arrangements of International Organizations for nuclear accidents and
radiological emergencies. The exercises ultimately improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of nuclear emergency planning,
preparedness, and management. This exercise will provide an opportunity
to identify shortcomings in the national and/or international
information exchange and response systems that might hamper the response
to a nuclear accident. ARL's web pages will allow the RSMC to expand
the number and type of products that can be provided quickly, including
products at higher temporal and spatial scales.