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Acquisition of International Certification at Okinawa Monitoring Facility
- Starting Operation of All CTBT Radionuclide Monitoring Facilities in Japan -
Feb. 23, 2007
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (as represented by President Toshio Okazaki, hereinafter referred to as JAEA) has completed all the development to commence the operation of radionuclide monitoring facilities at three sites, the establishment of which in Japan is required under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Following the Takasaki Radionuclide Monitoring Station (as established at the Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute) operating in advance as Japan’s first certified monitoring station, the Tokai Radionuclide Laboratory (as established at the Nuclear Science Research Institute) in Tokai-mura, Ibaraki and the Okinawa Radionuclide Monitoring Station (as established at the Okinawa Space Communication Site of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in Onnason, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa were both certified by the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO as of November 16th, 2006 and February 22nd, 2007 respectively as a CTBT International Monitoring System Facility that meets the technical requirements for monitoring nuclear tests.
At the Okinawa and Takasaki Monitoring Stations, airborne particulate samples are collected daily and radionuclide data transmitted to the International Data Center of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission in Vienna, Austria, while the Tokai Radionuclide Laboratory performs further analysis on samples received from monitoring stations around the world. Furthermore, in order to address underground nuclear tests, the noble-gas-monitoring equipment was newly installed at the Takasaki Radionuclide Monitoring Station, where data has been being acquired and transmitted since January 19, 2007.
The CTBT International Monitoring System consists of 321 stations, using four technologies for seismic, radionuclide, infrasound, and hydroacoustic monitoring, and 16 certified laboratories around the world, and its development is currently under way.
When monitoring radionuclides for suspected nuclear testing, a highly-sensitive monitoring system detects specific radionuclide particles released into the atmosphere. In cases where underground nuclear testing may have occurred, a comprehensive assessment is made by identifying the location of earthquakes through seismic wave monitoring and analyzing particulate radionuclides released into the atmosphere.
In order to continue to contribute the establishment of the international nonproliferation regime, JAEA intends to make further contribution to the establishment of the CTBT International Monitoring System by promoting the operation and relevant technological development of the Okinawa and Takasaki Monitoring Stations and the Tokai Radionuclide Laboratory.
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Location of environment monitoring posts measuring amount of
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