Application of RESRAD-OFFSITE to Two Probabilistic Test Scenarios

The use of probabilistic dose and risk analysis will become widespread in radiological assessments because of the insights it provides and because of the availability of fast personal computers. Although the probabilistic analysis for each site will be unique because of the probabilistic inputs selected, their site-specific distributions, and any interrelationship between the inputs, the insights gained during the participation of the RESRAD-OFFSITE computer code in the Biosphere Modelling and Assessment and Biospheric Model Validation probabilistic studies will be useful guides in performing other probabilistic dose and risk analyses. Correlation and regression analysis can be performed on raw or ranked data, and the appropriate analysis can be chosen on the basis of the coefficient of determination. Partial (rank) correlation coefficients and standardized (rank) regression coefficients can be used to identify probabilistic inputs that have a linear (or monotonic) effect on probabilistic outputs and to quantify these effects. A suite of scatter plots can be used to confirm this identification and to also identify the inputs that have nonlinear, nonmonotonic effects on probabilistic outputs.