Modeling of non-radioactive contamination of cooling ponds by NPP discharge waters in research of the last decade

The review systematizes research from the last decade on modeling the non-radioactive impact of nuclear power plants (NPPs) on cooling water bodies. It examines modern approaches to numerical modeling, including adapted hydrodynamic models and original domestic developments for assessing thermal and chemical impacts. Based on the analysis, promising directions for the development of modeling tools in this field are formulated, such as: incorporating feedback with atmospheric processes to improve forecast accuracy in coastal zones with complex wind circulation; developing models of interaction with bottom sediments; integrating with ecological risk models to transition from assessing abiotic parameters to direct forecasting of impacts on specific species and populations of aquatic organisms; creating detailed forecasts for extreme hydrometeorological scenarios under changing climate conditions to assess ecosystem resilience; and actively applying models at pre-investment stages of designing new NPPs to optimize the siting and configuration of discharge and water intake structures to minimize potential environmental impact.

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