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Title: Shallow infiltration processes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - neutron logging data 1984-93

Abstract

To determine site suitability of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a potential high-level radioactive waste repository, a study was devised to characterize net infiltration. This study involves a detailed data set produced from 99 neutron boreholes that consisted of volumetric water-content readings with depth from 1984 through 1993 at Yucca Mountain. Boreholes were drilled with minimal disturbance to the surrounding soil or rock in order to best represent field conditions. Boreholes were located in topographic positions representing infiltration zones identified as ridge-tops, sideslopes, terraces, and active channels. Through careful field calibration, neutron moisture logs, collected on a monthly basis and representing most of the areal locations at Yucca Mountain, illustrated that the depth of penetration of seasonal moisture, important for escaping loss to evapotranspiration, was influenced by several factors. It was increased (1) by thin soil cover, especially in locations where thin soil is underlain by fractured bedrock; (2) on ridgetops; and (3) during the winter when evapotranspiration is low and runoff is less frequent. This data set helps to provide a seasonal and areal distribution of changes in volumetric water content with which to assess hydrologic processes contributing to net infiltration.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Department of the Interior, Washington, DC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Department of the Interior, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
123208
Report Number(s):
USGS-WRI-95-4035
ON: DE96001882; TRN: 95:024604
DOE Contract Number:  
AI08-92NV10874
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
05 NUCLEAR FUELS; YUCCA MOUNTAIN; SITE CHARACTERIZATION; UNDERGROUND FACILITIES; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; SPENT FUELS; BOREHOLES; NEUTRON LOGGING; MOISTURE; Yucca Mountain Project

Citation Formats

Flint, L E, and Flint, A L. Shallow infiltration processes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - neutron logging data 1984-93. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.2172/123208.
Flint, L E, & Flint, A L. Shallow infiltration processes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - neutron logging data 1984-93. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/123208
Flint, L E, and Flint, A L. 1995. "Shallow infiltration processes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - neutron logging data 1984-93". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/123208. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/123208.
@article{osti_123208,
title = {Shallow infiltration processes at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - neutron logging data 1984-93},
author = {Flint, L E and Flint, A L},
abstractNote = {To determine site suitability of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a potential high-level radioactive waste repository, a study was devised to characterize net infiltration. This study involves a detailed data set produced from 99 neutron boreholes that consisted of volumetric water-content readings with depth from 1984 through 1993 at Yucca Mountain. Boreholes were drilled with minimal disturbance to the surrounding soil or rock in order to best represent field conditions. Boreholes were located in topographic positions representing infiltration zones identified as ridge-tops, sideslopes, terraces, and active channels. Through careful field calibration, neutron moisture logs, collected on a monthly basis and representing most of the areal locations at Yucca Mountain, illustrated that the depth of penetration of seasonal moisture, important for escaping loss to evapotranspiration, was influenced by several factors. It was increased (1) by thin soil cover, especially in locations where thin soil is underlain by fractured bedrock; (2) on ridgetops; and (3) during the winter when evapotranspiration is low and runoff is less frequent. This data set helps to provide a seasonal and areal distribution of changes in volumetric water content with which to assess hydrologic processes contributing to net infiltration.},
doi = {10.2172/123208},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/123208}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}