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The '''National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center''' (NARAC) is a national support and resource center for planning, real-time assessment, [[emergency response]], and detailed studies of incidents involving a wide variety of [[hazards]], including [[Nuclear chemistry|nuclear]], [[Radioactivity|radiological]], [[Chemistry|chemical]], [[Biology|biological]], and natural [[emission]]s.<ref name=About>[https://narac.llnl.gov/narac_overview.php About NARAC: Overview]</ref><ref name=Facts>[https://narac.llnl.gov/uploads/NARAC_FactSheet_SugiyamaNasstromWalker4_tkmug.pdf NAREC Fact Sheet]</ref>
{{Image|NARAC.jpg|right|350px|NARAC Headquarters.}} The '''National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center''' (NARAC) is a national support and resource center for planning, real-time assessment, [[emergency management]], and detailed studies of incidents involving a wide variety of [[hazards]], including [[Nuclear chemistry|nuclear]], [[Radioactivity|radiological]], [[Chemistry|chemical]], [[Biology|biological]], and natural [[emission]]s.<ref name=About>[https://narac.llnl.gov/narac_overview.html  About NARAC: Overview]</ref><ref name=Facts>[https://narac.llnl.gov/uploads/NARAC_FactSheet_SugiyamaNasstromWalker4_tkmug.pdf NAREC Fact Sheet]</ref>


NARAC is a part of the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (LLNL)<ref>[http://www.llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory] (official website)</ref> which is a premier applied science laboratory that is part of the [[National Nuclear Security Administration]] (NNSA)<ref>[http://nnsa.energy.gov/ NNSA website]</ref> within the [[U.S. Department of Energy]] (DOE).   
NARAC is a part of the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (LLNL)<ref>[http://www.llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory] (official website)</ref> which is a premier applied science laboratory that is part of the [[National Nuclear Security Administration]] (NNSA)<ref>[http://nnsa.energy.gov/ NNSA website]</ref> within the [[U.S. Department of Energy]] (DOE).   
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== Location and operational facilities ==
== Location and operational facilities ==


NARAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in [[Livermore]], [[California]] (about 50 miles east of [[San Francisco]]).  
NARAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in [[Livermore]], [[California (U.S. state)]] (about 50 miles east of [[San Francisco, California]]).  


The operational facilities operated by NARAC include:
The operational facilities operated by NARAC include:
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* An operations center with uninterruptible power, backup power generators, robust computer systems and a staff on-duty or on-call 24 hours per day and 7 days a week.
* An operations center with uninterruptible power, backup power generators, robust computer systems and a staff on-duty or on-call 24 hours per day and 7 days a week.
* Scientific and technical staff who provide support and training for NARAC tools, as well as quality assurance and detailed analysis of atmospheric releases.
* Scientific and technical staff who provide support and training for NARAC tools, as well as quality assurance and detailed analysis of atmospheric releases.
* Links to over 100 emergency operations centers around the [[United States]].
* Links to over 100 emergency operations centers around the [[United States of America]].


To provide integrated emergency response support, NARAC collaborates
To provide integrated emergency response support, NARAC collaborates
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== The Emergency Response System ==
== The Emergency Response System ==


NARAC maintains a sophisticated Emergency Response System at its LLNL facility. The NARAC emergency response central modeling system provides real time [[atmospheric dispersion modeling]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Turner, D.B.|title=Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling|edition=2nd Edition|publisher=CRC Press|year=1994|id=ISBN 1-56670-023-X}} [http://www.crcpress.com/shopping_cart/products/product_detail.asp?sku=L1023&parent_id=&pc= www.crcpress.com]</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Beychok, M.R.|title=[[Fundamentals Of Stack Gas Dispersion]]|edition=4th Edition|publisher=author-published|year=2005|id=ISBN 0-9644588-0-2}} [http://www.air-dispersion.com www.air-dispersion.com]</ref> using an integrated suite of [[meteorology|meteorological]] and atmospheric dispersion models.<ref name=ERS>[https://narac.llnl.gov/ers_overview.php Emergency Response System: Overview]</ref>  
NARAC maintains a sophisticated Emergency Response System at its LLNL facility. The NARAC emergency response central modeling system provides real time [[atmospheric dispersion modeling]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Turner, D.B.|title=Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling|edition=2nd Edition|publisher=CRC Press|year=1994|id=ISBN 1-56670-023-X}} [http://www.crcpress.com/shopping_cart/products/product_detail.asp?sku=L1023&parent_id=&pc= www.crcpress.com]</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Beychok, M.R.|title=[[Fundamentals Of Stack Gas Dispersion]]|edition=4th Edition|publisher=author-published|year=2005|id=ISBN 0-9644588-0-2}}</ref> using an integrated suite of [[meteorology|meteorological]] and atmospheric dispersion models.<ref name=ERS>[https://narac.llnl.gov/ers_overview.html Emergency Response System: Overview]</ref>  


NARAC clients access this system using software supplied by NARAC. With this system NARAC provides an automated product report for almost any type of hazardous atmospheric release anywhere in the world within 5 to 10 minutes.<ref name=ERS/>
NARAC clients access this system using software supplied by NARAC. With this system NARAC provides an automated product report for almost any type of hazardous atmospheric release anywhere in the world within 5 to 10 minutes.<ref name=ERS/>


When a client initiates a request via a phone call or interactively using the NARAC-supplied software online, the automated steps taken by the Emergency Response System are summarized below:<ref name=ERS/><ref>[https://narac.llnl.gov/ersteps.php Emergency Response System:Steps]</ref>
When a client initiates a request via a phone call or interactively using the NARAC-supplied software online, the automated steps taken by the Emergency Response System are summarized below:<ref name=ERS/><ref>[https://narac.llnl.gov/ersteps.html Emergency Response System:Steps]</ref>


* Receive and process information about the hazardous release in what is called a Questionnaire.  
* Receive and process information about the hazardous release in what is called a Questionnaire.  
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==References==
==References==


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(PD) Photo: Nat'l. Atmospheric Release Advisory Center
NARAC Headquarters.
The National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC) is a national support and resource center for planning, real-time assessment, emergency management, and detailed studies of incidents involving a wide variety of hazards, including nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, and natural emissions.[1][2]

NARAC is a part of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)[3] which is a premier applied science laboratory that is part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)[4] within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

NARAC's primary functions

NARAC's primary function is to support U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense sites, and DOE consequence management (CM) teams for radiological releases through the DOE's Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability (ARAC)[5] program. Under the auspices of the National Response Framework, NARAC assists other federal agencies and, through them, state and local agencies.

NARAC's support and advisory responsibilities are implemented by:

  • Providing tools and services that map the probable spread of hazardous material accidentally or intentionally released into the atmosphere.
  • Providing atmospheric plume predictions in time for an emergency manager to decide if action is necessary to protect the health and safety of people in affected areas.

Location and operational facilities

NARAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California (U.S. state) (about 50 miles east of San Francisco, California).

The operational facilities operated by NARAC include:

To provide integrated emergency response support, NARAC collaborates with more than 300 federal, state, and local agencies and emergency operations centers. The center’s operational system responds to about 7,000 requests per year and has over 1,800 online users.[6]

The Emergency Response System

NARAC maintains a sophisticated Emergency Response System at its LLNL facility. The NARAC emergency response central modeling system provides real time atmospheric dispersion modeling[7][8] using an integrated suite of meteorological and atmospheric dispersion models.[9]

NARAC clients access this system using software supplied by NARAC. With this system NARAC provides an automated product report for almost any type of hazardous atmospheric release anywhere in the world within 5 to 10 minutes.[9]

When a client initiates a request via a phone call or interactively using the NARAC-supplied software online, the automated steps taken by the Emergency Response System are summarized below:[9][10]

  • Receive and process information about the hazardous release in what is called a Questionnaire.
  • Collect meteorological data for the region around the release location and time.
  • Determine additional model parameters not provided in the Questionnaire and execute the suite of sophisticated atmospheric dispersion models.
  • Generate the requested product report that depicts the size and location of the release plume, the affected population, the health risks, and the proposed emergency responses.
  • Deliver the report to the client using the Internet, fax, or e-mail.

References

  1. ↑ About NARAC: Overview
  2. ↑ NAREC Fact Sheet
  3. ↑ Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (official website)
  4. ↑ NNSA website
  5. ↑ ARAC Fact Sheet
  6. ↑ On the Leading Edge of Atmospheric Predictions
  7. ↑ Turner, D.B. (1994). Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling, 2nd Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 1-56670-023-X.  www.crcpress.com
  8. ↑ Beychok, M.R. (2005). Fundamentals Of Stack Gas Dispersion, 4th Edition. author-published. ISBN 0-9644588-0-2. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Emergency Response System: Overview
  10. ↑ Emergency Response System:Steps
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