Thermal pollution assessment in nuclear power plant environment by satellite remote sensing data

The main environmental issues affecting the broad acceptability of NPP (Nuclear Power Plant) are the emission of radioactive materials, the generation of radioactive and heat waste, and the potential for nuclear accidents. Satellite remote sensing is an important tool for spatio-temporal analysis and surveillance of environment, thermal heat waste of waters being a major concern in many coastal ecosystems involving nuclear power plants, as sharp changes in water temperature can significantly affect the distribution and physiology of aquatic biota and contribute to global warming. The thermal plume signature in the NPP hydrological system in TIR (Thermal Infrared) spectral bands of Landsat TM and ETM TIR band 6, ASTER, and MODIS TIR bands time series satellite have been used for WST (Water Surface Temperature) detection, mapping and monitoring. As a test case the methodology was applied for NPP Cernavoda, Romania during period of 1990-2011 years. Thermal discharge from two nuclear reactors cooling is dissipated as waste heat in Danube-Black-Sea Channel and Danube River. If during the winter thermal plume is localized to an area of a few km of NPP, the temperature difference between the plume and non-plume areas being about 1.5 degrees C, during summer and fall, is a larger thermal plume up to 5-6 km far along Danube Black Sea Channel, the temperature change being of about 1.0 degrees C.