Literature review of models for estimating soil erosion and deposition from wind stresses on uranium-mill-tailings covers

Technical Report · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6893246· OSTI ID:6893246

Bander, T J

Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) is investigating the use of a rock armoring blanket (riprap) to mitigate wind and water erosion of an earthen radon-suppression cover applied to uranium-mill tailings. The mechanics of wind erosion, as well as of soil deposition, are discussed in this report. Several wind erosion models are reviewed to determine if they can be used to estimate the erosion of soil from a mill-tailings cover. One model, developed by W.S. Chepil, contains the most-important factors that describe variables that influence wind erosion. Particular features of other models are also discussed, as well as the application of Chepil's model to a particular tailings pile. For this particular tailings pile, the estimated erosion was almost one inch per year for an unprotected tailings soil surface. Wide variability in the deposition velocity and lack of adequate deposition models preclude reliable estimates of the rate at which airborne particles are deposited.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6893246
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-2768; PNL-4302; ON: DE83004427
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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COVERINGS
DEPOSITION
ELEMENTS
EROSION
FLUIDS
GASES
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MILL TAILINGS
NONMETALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADON
RARE GASES
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
STABILIZATION
TAILINGS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WIND