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The atmosphere submodel for the assessment of Canada`s nuclear fuel waste management concept

Abstract

Canada`s Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program is researching a concept for disposal of immobilized nuclear fuel waste in a vault mined deep in stable plutonic rock. When protective barriers are eventually breached, radioactive and chemically toxic nuclides, carried by groundwater, may migrate from the vault to the biosphere. They may cycle through surface waters, soil, the atmosphere and the food chain. One of the objectives of the program is to assess the movement of nuclides using modelling techniques to calculate the radiological dose to humans and concentrations of contaminants in the environment. To achieve these goals a biosphere model, comprising four submodels, has been developed. This report describes the atmosphere submodel and the pathways through which nuclides may move through the atmosphere. The model describes the processes of nuclide suspension, dispersion and deposition. Surface water and soil are considered as primary sources of nuclide fluxes to the atmosphere. Some nuclides may be attached to contaminated suspended particulate matter, whereas others are mobile as gases. The model considers natural phenomena such as wind erosion of soil, forest fires, gaseous emissions from soil, and bubble bursting at lake surfaces. Anthropogenic processes such as wood burning for energy are also modelled, and nuclide  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Sep 01, 1992
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
AECL-9889; COG-91-199.
Reference Number:
SCA: 053001; PA: AIX-25:025349; EDB-94:050692; NTS-94:016665; SN: 94001174632
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Sep 1992
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY; FALLOUT; PARTICLE RESUSPENSION; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; WIND; 053001; SITING
OSTI ID:
10138378
Research Organizations:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, MB (Canada). Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94619318; TRN: CA9400058025349
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
99 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 05, 2005

Citation Formats

Amiro, B D. The atmosphere submodel for the assessment of Canada`s nuclear fuel waste management concept. Canada: N. p., 1992. Web.
Amiro, B D. The atmosphere submodel for the assessment of Canada`s nuclear fuel waste management concept. Canada.
Amiro, B D. 1992. "The atmosphere submodel for the assessment of Canada`s nuclear fuel waste management concept." Canada.
@misc{etde_10138378,
title = {The atmosphere submodel for the assessment of Canada`s nuclear fuel waste management concept}
author = {Amiro, B D}
abstractNote = {Canada`s Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program is researching a concept for disposal of immobilized nuclear fuel waste in a vault mined deep in stable plutonic rock. When protective barriers are eventually breached, radioactive and chemically toxic nuclides, carried by groundwater, may migrate from the vault to the biosphere. They may cycle through surface waters, soil, the atmosphere and the food chain. One of the objectives of the program is to assess the movement of nuclides using modelling techniques to calculate the radiological dose to humans and concentrations of contaminants in the environment. To achieve these goals a biosphere model, comprising four submodels, has been developed. This report describes the atmosphere submodel and the pathways through which nuclides may move through the atmosphere. The model describes the processes of nuclide suspension, dispersion and deposition. Surface water and soil are considered as primary sources of nuclide fluxes to the atmosphere. Some nuclides may be attached to contaminated suspended particulate matter, whereas others are mobile as gases. The model considers natural phenomena such as wind erosion of soil, forest fires, gaseous emissions from soil, and bubble bursting at lake surfaces. Anthropogenic processes such as wood burning for energy are also modelled, and nuclide concentrations in both outdoor and indoor air are calculated. The model combines a variety of techniques, including mass loading concepts, flux density estimates, numerical dispersion models and specific activity relationships. The model is probabilistic; transport is modelled using simple mass transfer equations, and variability is incorporated by distributing values for parameters. This report documents the model equations, the parameter values, and comparisons of pathways. (Author).}
place = {Canada}
year = {1992}
month = {Sep}
}