Desperate Measures International, LLC

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) comprises numerous nuclear facilities located in central Idaho. We develop new computer codes to evaluate volcanic hazards at INL sites probabilistically.

DMI worked with Staff from the Armenian National Academy of Sciences to complete a probabilistic volcanic hazard assessment for the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. This project included geophysical surveys (transient electromagnetic, magnetotelluric, gravity and magnetics) of the site vicinity and probabilistic modeling of opening of new vents, tephra (volcanic ash) fallout, lava inundation, debris avalanche hazard, pyroclastic density current hazard and lahars. This hazard assessment was reviewed and approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

DMI staff developed spatial density models for the U.S. Department of Energy expert elicitation on opening of new vents at the proposed Yucca Mountain high-level waste facility. This code allowed experts to explore alternative spatial density models for the opening of new volcanic vents, using a Bayesian implementation of kernel density estimation.

DMI staff developed new geophysical models for the volume of the Aso IV volcanic eruption, by inverting gravity and magnetic anomaly data using advanced machine learning algorithms. Staff then contributed to the international expert elicitation on probability of inundation of the Ikata nuclear power plant site by future pyroclastic density currents from Aso caldera.

As part of an international tectonics team, DMI Staff developed models and computer code to assess volcanic and volcano-tectonic hazards for selection of radioactive waste repository sites in Japan, on behalf of the Nuclear Waste Organization of Japan (NUMO). Hazard models were developed for volcano formation, including caldera volcanism, and assessment of coupled volcanic and tectonic processes on timescales of one million years.

The international community mandated that guidelines be developed for volcanic hazards to nuclear facilities. DMI Staff assisted in development of these guidelines for the International Atomic Energy Agency. DMI Staff have participated in IAEA missions to numerous nations to assist member states in implementation of volcanic hazard assessments.