Characteriation of flow and transport processes within theunsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, under current and futureclimates

Journal Article · Fri Jul 28 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

OSTI ID:886748

Wu, Yu-Shu; Pan, Lehua; Zhang, W; Bodvarsson, G S

This paper presents a large-scale modeling study characterizing fluid flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a potential repository site for storing high-level radioactive waste. The study has been conducted using a three-dimensional numerical model, which incorporates a wide variety of field data and takes into account the coupled processes of flow and transport in the highly heterogeneous, unsaturated fractured porous rock. The modeling approach is based on a dual-continuum formulation of coupled multiphase fluid and tracer transport through fractured porous rock. Various scenarios of current and future climate conditions and their effects on the unsaturated zone are evaluated to aid in the assessment of the proposed repository's system performance using different conceptual models. These models are calibrated against field-measured data. Model-predicted flow and transport processes under current and future climates are discussed.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Civilian Radioactive WasteManagement
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 886748
• Report Number(s): LBNL--46572
• Journal Information: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Journal Name: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology Journal Issue: 3-4 Vol. 54; ISSN JCOHE6; ISSN 0169-7722
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CLIMATES
FLUID FLOW
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
PERFORMANCE
SIMULATION
TRANSPORT
Unsaturated-zone flow and transport Surface infiltrationNumerical simulation Fracture-matrix interactions and perched waterFractured tuff Model Simulation Repository Fluid EnvironmentalSciences
YUCCA MOUNTAIN