External radiation dose rate monitoring in Finnish Lapland

Updated 2013-01-26

Part of the continuous nationwide monitoring of radionuclides in Finland. The dose rate monitoring network in Finnish Lapland comprise 32 automatic measurement stations (Finnish nation-wide monitoring network consists of about 257 stations equipped with GM tubes). Three of the stations are equipped with LaBr3-detectors measuring a gammaspectrum with 10 minute intervals. The network is intended for civilian defence and surveillance purposes, not for research. It is a good early warning system in radiation fallout situation. Every monitoring station have individual alarm level: 7 days average dose rate + 0.1 microSv/h. The dense network indicate also the extent of the radioactive contamination.

This is a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project
Comments and additional information:

Russian authorities disconnected the Finnish network for monitoring external dose rate in 8 stations in Kola Peninsula, Russia in about 1996 (?).

Time frame

Status
Ongoing
Project time span
1960 -
Data collection
1960 -
Data processing
1960 -
Data reporting
1960 - 2012

Contact information

Contact person
Kaj Vesterbacka
Address
STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority PL 14, 00881 Helsinki Finland
Phone
+358 (0)9 7598 8426
Fax
+358 (0)9 7598 8433
Email
if.kuts@akcabretsev.jak
Other project contacts
Other project contacts: Dina Solatie STUK - Radiation and Nuclear safety Authority Regional laboratory in Northern Finland Lähteentie 2 FIN-96400 Rovaniemi Finland

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled
Radionuclides
Media sampled/studied/modelled
Additional information or further specification of types of data / information collected, species / tissues / organs sampled, etc.

Automatic dose rate monitoring of gamma radiation, microSv/h. In normal conditions the monitoring results from the automatic network are collected once a day. Until 1999 the data was gathered, stored and displayed by the SVO+ system, which at the end of 1999 replaced by a new radiation monitoring information system USVA . The central hardware of USVA is located in the facilitties of STUK, and the data communication between the central equipment and monitoring stations is performed by the public telephone network If the dose rate at any monitoring station exceeds the pre-set alarm level of 0.4 micro Sv/h the station in question automatically sends alarm messages both to the USVA system and to the regional alarm centre in Helsinki.

Geography

Regions studied
Radionuclides
Radionuclides
Radionuclides
Radionuclides
Stations or areas where observations are made

The stations cover all municipalities in Lapland.

Data availability

Are data archived or planned to be archived at an AMAP Thematic Data Centre?
no
If no (or only part of data are reported to a TDC), where and how are (other) data stored?
The data is archived in STUK’s database. The data is available on request from the project leader.
References to key publications (or planned publications) and data reports
The results are published in annual research reports in STUK’s research report series B. STUK - B -TKO, May 2000. Surveillance of environmental radiation in Finland. Annual report 1999. Raimo Mustonen (Ed.) p.14-16. STUK-B 148/August 2011, Surveillance of Environmental Radiation in Finland. Annual Report 2011. Raimo Mustonen (ed).
Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?
No

Methods & Procedures

Not specified

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?
No
Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?

STUK reports doserate measurement information to European Comission under the article 35. STUK also reports doserate information to other Baltic Sea states.

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