It will be a historic day when the meteorological mast at Risø DTU in the beginning of September is taken down to be renovated. Since 1956 it has been providing measurements of wind conditions at Risø. The mast is to be sandblasted and painted, a new lift is to be installed, and the measuring instruments are to be brought up to date and replaced.
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In 1957 Risø’s meteorological mast was put into service for the first time and since then it has supplied continuous measurements of the air temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction at seven different heights between 0 and 120 metres. Risø is forwarding these weather data to DMI daily.
The data is currently one of the longest meteorological mast series in the world from high masts over 100 feet. The high meteorological masts were especially set up, as we began to look at the peaceful use of nuclear power, we needed to know more about how the wind would disperse radioactivity in any accident.
"And it is actually because of this unique mast-series that it has been decided that there won’t be put a brand new mast up, but that the old must be preserved. This way the measurements before and after can be compared. There will obviously be a gap in the data series, but then it will start its course again, "explains Head of Campus Services Anders B. Møller, which will oversee the work of the dismantling of the mast.
Radioactivity, ash clouds and spread of disease
Originally the mast was set up at Risø to provide Risø's scientists with information on wind conditions in the turbulent lower atmospheric layers. The idea was that Risø could be in a state of readiness in case a radioactive cloud would move across Denmark.
A task required by the national parliament of Denmark, as Risø originally was established to deal with the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Based on data from the mast, the meteorology scientists have developed risk analyses and computer models that can predict how anything from volcanic ash clouds to diseases such as the foot-and-mouth disease can spread by wind. Something that has proven extremely useful in several cases.
"At the time of the Chernobyl accident, large parts of Europe - including Denmark – experienced increased radioactivity, and the mast and observing stations at Risø really proved their worth. Of course we do not hope to see similar cases, but many countries around us do have nuclear power plants, although Denmark has decided not to invest in this form of energy. Therefore, it still makes sense to keep the mast, " Oluf Høst from Campus Service explains. He has been working with the mast for nearly 30 years now.
The Wind Energy Division continues to use the data to a great extent, and is, naturally, involved in the process of taking down the mast and installing new measuring equipment. At the top of the mast, the Wind Energy Division has placed a so-called Lidar, a laser used to measure the ash from the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland, among other things.
Temporary emergency procedures are established
Danish Decommissioning and Risø's gatekeeper need the data from the mast for emergency procedures. For instance the gatekeeper must constantly be informed of wind speed and wind direction. Obviously they cannot live with this temporary lack of data so temporary observing stations have been set up at the turbines to meet the requirements of the Danish Emergency Management Agency.
The work of taking down the mast is handled by Campus Service and they are also responsible for communicating with the authorities in this regard. For example the Civil Aviation Administration has been informed as the mast is currently used during the approach to Roskilde Airport. Furthermore, nuclear authorities have also been informed. The work is expected to last at least two months. |