Modelling atmospheric dispersal of the Chernobyl release across Europe

At the time of the Chernobyl accident little was known about the magnitude and time pattern of the release from the damaged reactor. This paper describes the detective work done in the weeks following the accident to assess the release and its dispersal across Europe; also calculations done since the USSR presentations in Vienna at the end of August 1986 and some estimates of longer term collective dose commitment. To conclude some general remarks are made about the implications of the Chernobyl accident for technical support in emergency procedures for any future nuclear accident.