Long-term climate variability at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, southeastern New Mexico, USA
- Tech Reps, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
The United States Department of Energy is developing the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southeastern New Mexico for the disposal of transuranic wastes generated by defense programs. Because changes in climate during the next 10,000 years (10 ka) may affect performance of the repository, an understanding of long-term climate variability is essential for evaluating regulatory compliance. Fluctuations in global climate corresponding to glaciation and deglaciation of the northern hemisphere have been regular in both frequency and amplitude for at least 780 ka. Coolest and wettest conditions in the past have occurred at the WIPP during glacial maxima, when the North American ice sheet reached its southern limit roughly 1200 km north of the WIPP and deflected the jet stream southward. Average precipitation in southeastern New Mexico during the last glacial maximum 22-18 ka before present (BP) was approximately twice that of the present. Driest conditions (precipitation approximately 90% of present) occurred 6.5-4.5 ka BP, after the ice sheet had retreated to its present location. Wet periods of unknown duration have occurred since the retreat of the ice sheet, but none have exceeded glacial conditions. Global climate models suggest that anthropogenic climate changes (i.e., warming caused by an increased greenhouse effect) will not result in an increase in precipitation at the WIPP. The climate of the last glacial maximum is therefore suitable for use as a cooler and wetter limit for variability during the next 10 ka. 93 refs., 9 figs.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6946274
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Management; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Management; (United States) Vol. 17:1; ISSN EMNGDC; ISSN 0364-152X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CLIMATE MODELS
CLIMATES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FLUCTUATIONS
FORECASTING
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERFORMANCE
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VARIATIONS
WIPP