You need JavaScript to view this

The influence of the unsaturated zone on the upward transport of radionuclides in soils

Abstract

In this study the effect of transient hydrological conditions on the upward transport of radionuclides through soils has been studied. The effect of varying soil properties, climate conditions have been considered as well as the effect of a fluctuating groundwater level. It was shown that the soil characteristics influences the radionuclide concentration; an increased hydraulic conductivity leads to increase in the concentration in the root zone. The climate conditions were shown to be of major importance. A dispersion dependent on both velocity and saturation leads to a more effective upward transport of radionuclides to the root zone than if dispersion is assumed to be dependent only on the saturation. The boundary condition used in the case with varying groundwater level may be more realistic than the boundary condition applied for the case with a constant groundwater level. All calculations with varying groundwater level gave lower radionuclide concentration in the root zone. Sorption is redox sensitive for many radionuclides and the redox potential in the soil will be affected by the degree of water saturation. The performed calculations did, however, not result in any significant change in the radionuclide concentration in the root zone due to variation in sorption. A comparison  More>>
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1993
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
KEMAKTA-AR-93-07
Reference Number:
SCA: 540230; PA: AIX-25:027779; EDB-94:065526; NTS-94:018449; SN: 94001177461
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jul 1993
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; SOILS; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; BIOSPHERE; CLIMATES; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; GROUND WATER; HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY; MIGRATION LENGTH; RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; 540230; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
OSTI ID:
10140994
Research Organizations:
Kemakta Konsult AB, Stockholm (Sweden)
Country of Origin:
Sweden
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94620553; CNN: Project SSI-P-648.91; TRN: SE9400039027779
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS; INIS
Submitting Site:
SWDN
Size:
45 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 05, 2005

Citation Formats

Elert, M, and Lindgren, M. The influence of the unsaturated zone on the upward transport of radionuclides in soils. Sweden: N. p., 1993. Web.
Elert, M, & Lindgren, M. The influence of the unsaturated zone on the upward transport of radionuclides in soils. Sweden.
Elert, M, and Lindgren, M. 1993. "The influence of the unsaturated zone on the upward transport of radionuclides in soils." Sweden.
@misc{etde_10140994,
title = {The influence of the unsaturated zone on the upward transport of radionuclides in soils}
author = {Elert, M, and Lindgren, M}
abstractNote = {In this study the effect of transient hydrological conditions on the upward transport of radionuclides through soils has been studied. The effect of varying soil properties, climate conditions have been considered as well as the effect of a fluctuating groundwater level. It was shown that the soil characteristics influences the radionuclide concentration; an increased hydraulic conductivity leads to increase in the concentration in the root zone. The climate conditions were shown to be of major importance. A dispersion dependent on both velocity and saturation leads to a more effective upward transport of radionuclides to the root zone than if dispersion is assumed to be dependent only on the saturation. The boundary condition used in the case with varying groundwater level may be more realistic than the boundary condition applied for the case with a constant groundwater level. All calculations with varying groundwater level gave lower radionuclide concentration in the root zone. Sorption is redox sensitive for many radionuclides and the redox potential in the soil will be affected by the degree of water saturation. The performed calculations did, however, not result in any significant change in the radionuclide concentration in the root zone due to variation in sorption. A comparison between the results of the two models show that the compartment model in all studied cases predicts a higher annual average radionuclide concentration in the root zone than the numerical model. Annual variation in soil water flow were not included in the compartment model. During the summer the concentration in the root zone may be several times higher than the annual average. This may be important for plant uptake, since this increased concentrations coincides with the plant growing season. The calculations made with the simple compartment model also show that these types of models have an inherent dispersion that depends on the size of the compartments.}
place = {Sweden}
year = {1993}
month = {Jul}
}