Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network
Encyclopedia
The Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET) is a network of 91 monitoring stations, used by the Government of the United Kingdom which records and analyses the level of radioactivity across the United Kingdom. A reading is taken from each station every hour and an alert triggered if radiation levels for specific isotope
s rise significantly above normal background radiation
levels at one or more stations.
Stations are distributed all over the UK, but are more concentrated at coastal areas. The rational for this being the perceived threat of radiation arriving from an overseas incident. Data is collected at a central computer based in a DEFRA
building in central London. For security reasons, a backup computer is also in operation at a secret location in the UK.
The network was set up in 1988 as a response to the Chernobyl disaster
in 1986.
As well as being of use in an emergency, the stations also serve to record historical data on radiation levels.
Isotope
Isotopes are variants of atoms of a particular chemical element, which have differing numbers of neutrons. Atoms of a particular element by definition must contain the same number of protons but may have a distinct number of neutrons which differs from atom to atom, without changing the designation...
s rise significantly above normal background radiation
Background radiation
Background radiation is the ionizing radiation constantly present in the natural environment of the Earth, which is emitted by natural and artificial sources.-Overview:Both Natural and human-made background radiation varies by location....
levels at one or more stations.
Stations are distributed all over the UK, but are more concentrated at coastal areas. The rational for this being the perceived threat of radiation arriving from an overseas incident. Data is collected at a central computer based in a DEFRA
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
building in central London. For security reasons, a backup computer is also in operation at a secret location in the UK.
The network was set up in 1988 as a response to the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
in 1986.
As well as being of use in an emergency, the stations also serve to record historical data on radiation levels.