A comparison of plume dispersion characteristics at RFP using different stability class determination methods

In the course of recent calculations of population dose using Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) meteorological statistics for the last several years, we have discovered interesting associations. It is the intent of this paper to communicate these to other workers in the field. In order to determine the potential dose to a person at the RFP site boundary from a source of radioactive effluent, it is necessary to account for atmospheric dispersion of the effluent. Often, a bounding calculation, using a ''worst case'' meteorological condition, is performed. We were interested, however, in using a more typical, or likely, condition. To do so, we used data derived from measurements at the RFP meteorological tower. These measurements include 15 minute samples of wind speed, wind direction, and temperatures at 10 meters, 25 meters and 60 meters above ground. We took these data for the complete period for which they are quality assured, March, 1989 through January, 1993, and used them in a simple computer program to develop dose statistics by repeated application of Gaussian plume dispersion