The Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (Qeeri ) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (Care-C) of The Cyprus Institute (CyI), have signed a collaboration agreement to estimate and predict contamination risks and associated impacts from the atmospheric dispersion of radionuclides accidentally released by a major industrial facility.
The purpose of the Qeeri-Care-C collaboration is to develop a methodology for environmental hazard risk and vulnerability assessment in the Middle East in addition to test this methodology by estimating the risk to the population in Qatar, in case of a severe accident at a nuclear or industrial risk site.
The agreement’s main objectives are the establishment of preliminary radioactivity risk maps regarding atmospheric deposition of radionuclides following potential nuclear accidents in the Middle East. Secondly, the risk assessment of atmospheric deposition and population exposure to radioactivity and other toxic substances following potential accidents at industrial facilities. The collaboration will also lead to the establishment of an early warning system for radioactive and other toxic spills in the atmosphere in the Middle East region, using numerical forecasting tools.
Dr Huda al-Sulaiti, senior research director at Qeeri’s Natural and Environmental Hazards Observatory, said: “We aim to use our state-of-the-art facilities in characterisation, modelling, and forecasting, to establish early warning systems to assess natural hazards and support policy and decision-making processes. We look forward to working alongside Cyl to support resilience efforts in reducing and mitigating the risks of natural and environmental hazards.”
Prof Jean Sciare, director of the Care-C, said: "We are excited to work together with Qeeri on this project. Combining the systems we already have in place, such as Care-C’s EMAC model and Qeeri’s WRF-Chem model helps us make more accurate assessments. We work in close collaboration with global partners to conduct pioneering research programmes involving cutting-edge, high throughput technologies, in order to address problems of regional as well as international significance.”
Dr Marc Vermeersch, executive director, Qeeri, said: “We believe partnerships such as the one we recently signed with CyI resonates with our goal to be a catalyst for positive transformation in Qatar and the region while having a global impact. This partnership is crucial to leverage the expertise of both Qeeri’s researchers and engineers as well as the specialists from CyI to assess potential risks and impacts, and as such to provide robust and timely recommendations to minimise the risk for Qatar.”
The purpose of the Qeeri-Care-C collaboration is to develop a methodology for environmental hazard risk and vulnerability assessment in the Middle East in addition to test this methodology by estimating the risk to the population in Qatar, in case of a severe accident at a nuclear or industrial risk site.
The agreement’s main objectives are the establishment of preliminary radioactivity risk maps regarding atmospheric deposition of radionuclides following potential nuclear accidents in the Middle East. Secondly, the risk assessment of atmospheric deposition and population exposure to radioactivity and other toxic substances following potential accidents at industrial facilities. The collaboration will also lead to the establishment of an early warning system for radioactive and other toxic spills in the atmosphere in the Middle East region, using numerical forecasting tools.
Dr Huda al-Sulaiti, senior research director at Qeeri’s Natural and Environmental Hazards Observatory, said: “We aim to use our state-of-the-art facilities in characterisation, modelling, and forecasting, to establish early warning systems to assess natural hazards and support policy and decision-making processes. We look forward to working alongside Cyl to support resilience efforts in reducing and mitigating the risks of natural and environmental hazards.”
Prof Jean Sciare, director of the Care-C, said: "We are excited to work together with Qeeri on this project. Combining the systems we already have in place, such as Care-C’s EMAC model and Qeeri’s WRF-Chem model helps us make more accurate assessments. We work in close collaboration with global partners to conduct pioneering research programmes involving cutting-edge, high throughput technologies, in order to address problems of regional as well as international significance.”
Dr Marc Vermeersch, executive director, Qeeri, said: “We believe partnerships such as the one we recently signed with CyI resonates with our goal to be a catalyst for positive transformation in Qatar and the region while having a global impact. This partnership is crucial to leverage the expertise of both Qeeri’s researchers and engineers as well as the specialists from CyI to assess potential risks and impacts, and as such to provide robust and timely recommendations to minimise the risk for Qatar.”