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March 2003 |
I spy with my little satellite something starting with N
After error removal in his studies on Portsmouth the three reactors (X333, X330, X326) showed a temperature difference from surrounding to be +21.7, +19.7 and +17.7 respectively in March 1994 from a low resolution LANDSAT5 satellite TIR imagery. Given that the process buildings are clearly visible in the thermal bands of images, the analysis shows that thermal imagery from commercial satellites can reveal that a GDP appears “hot” relative to surroundings, and by implication that the shut-down status of a plant could be identified.
If the reprocessing plant is closed the
activity level must be very low but a very small scale reprocessing plant again requires TIR imaging. So removal of heat from reactor core is essential for shutdown that is no vaporization is occurring. If reactor has cooling pond TIR can still indicate the change in temperature. If the reactor is using water of river through ports, the temperature variance of water from input stream to discharge stream is a clear indicator.
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Night time or early morning thermal imagery, might be used to minimize the effects of solar heating and confirm the source of the effect. But even without such imagery, the ~5 - 20 °C increases in roof temperatures induced by internal activity alone can be clearly seen with existing and future satellite
thermal images.
Conclusion and Recommendations
It can be concluded that features like availability of water, difference in water temperature, water vapor plumes, building structures (especially GDP) and activities are features and high spatial resolution Very Near Infrared Imagery (VNIR in TIR) provide evidence and status of a reprocessing plant. Landsat-7 and ASTER imagery can be typically utilized for this purpose. From FMCT to a global, verified ban on the production of
fissile materials for nuclear explosives would, therefore, be a key building block in a comprehensive strategy to contain and
eliminate nuclear weapons.
References
- Zhang, H., "Strengthening IAEA Safeguards using high resolution commercial satellite imagery", International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA-SM-367/16/01), 29 Oct-Nov 2001.
- Zhang, H., "Strengthening IAEA Safeguards using high resolution commercial satellite imagery", Symposium on International Safeguards: Verification and Nuclear Material Security, Vienna Austria (Oct-Nov 2001).
- Zhang, H., and Hippel, F., "Monitoring Large Enrichment Plants Using Thermal Imagery from Commercial Satellites: A Case Study" , Science and Global Security, Vol. 9 (2001), pp. 143 - 163.
- Zhang, H., "Uses of commercial satellite imagery in FMCT verification", (2000).
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