CTBT: Science and Technology Conference 2025 - SnT2025

Comparison of Xe-133 activity concentration background in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

P2.3-416

Not scheduled

1h

Zeremoniensaal

E-poster T2.3 Atmospheric and Subsurface Radionuclide Background and Dispersion P2.3 Atmospheric and Subsurface Radionuclide Background and Dispersion

Speaker

Begoña Pérez López (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT))

Description

This study is about radioxenon Xe-133 background in the Southern and Northern hemispheres and to discuss the influence of this context on nuclear test identification.
The study was carried out in four CTBTO stations in Northern and Southern hemispheres. They were chosen taking into account NPPs and medical facilities close the stations. Data was extracted from Review Radionuclide Report (RRR) through RN Toolkit in a period of ten years, from 2014 to 2024.
Data of different stations was separated by seasons and split depending on the level of activity concentration of Xe-133, as well as was differentiated for both hemispheres. Results show that the Xe-133 activity concentration in the Southern Hemisphere is lower than in the Northern one. After Covid-19 pandemic the background of Xe-133 in the Southern Hemisphere raised due to the increase of radiopharmaceuticals production. The Northern Hemisphere exhibits a complex radioxenon environment due to the proximity of nuclear power plant reactors and research reactors.
Climatic and environmental differences between both hemispheres and also NPP define the radioxenon background.