An objective nuclear accident magnitude scale for quantification of severe and catastrophic events

@article{Smythe2011AnON,
  title={An objective nuclear accident magnitude scale for quantification of severe and catastrophic events},
  author={David Smythe},
  journal={Physics Today},
  year={2011}
}
  • David Smythe
  • Published 12 December 2011
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics Today
Deficiencies in the existing International Nuclear Event Scale (INES)[1] have become clear in the light of comparisons between the 1986 Chernobyl and 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accidents.[2–4] First, the scale is essentially a discrete qualitative ranking, not defined beyond event level 7. Second, it was designed as a public relations tool, not an objective scientific scale. Third, its most serious shortcoming is that it conflates magnitude with intensity. 
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