A fuzzy classification of the hydrodynamic forcings of the Rhone River plume: An application in case of accidental release of radionuclides

• Published in: Environmental modelling & software : with environment data news Vol. 140; p. 105005
• Main Authors: Delaval, A., Duffa, C., Pairaud, I., Radakovitch, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2021; Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidental release; Accidental release scenarios; Clustering; Coastal management; Coastal plume; Continental interfaces, environment; Dilution; Environmental Sciences; Environmental studies; Estuaries; Fuzzy c-mean clustering; Humanities and Social Sciences; Radioisotopes; Radioprotection; Rhone river; River mouth; River plumes; Rivers; Sciences of the Universe; Wind speed; Rhone River; Rhone river; Accidental release scenarios; Coastal management; Radioprotection; Coastal plume; Fuzzy c-mean clustering
• ISSN: 1364-8152; 1873-6726
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105005

Assessing and modelling the coastal plume dispersion of nuclearized rivers is strategic in case of accidental releases, but taking into account the variation of main hydrodynamic forcings is challenging. This study uses fuzzy c-mean clustering of a 10 years series of discharge and wind speed at the Rhone River estuary (France) in order to explain the variability of its plume. The method allows to classify the data into 6 scenarios of hydrodynamic forcings that were related to different spatial extensions of the plume, as well as to surface currents measured in-situ. These scenarios were used to simulate the extension and dilution of a radioactive release issued from the river. Based on threshold values of the forcings, a decisional tree is proposed to provide a quick decision tool identifying, in real time, which climatological scenario occurs at the river mouth and the potential plume pattern.
•Analyze of 10 years records of discharge and wind conditions at Rhone River mouth.•Fuzzy clustering performed to identify six different hydroclimatological trends.•These trends induce different spreading of the Rhone river plume and contaminants.•Plume shapes identification allows faster decision in case of accidental releases.