Soil moisture transport in arid site vadose zones. [Evaluation of Hanford as national site for radioactive waste storage]
Data are presented from measurements of soil moisture at the Hanford Reservation. Possible mechanisms for moisture transport in arid and semi-arid climates were studied. Measurements for the lysimeter experiment and the thermocouple psychrometer experiment were continued with a new series of measurements using closely spaced sensors installed to a depth of 1.52 meters. During the 1973-1974 water year the percolation envelope of higher moisture content penetrated to a depth of four meters in the closed-bottom lysimeter and then was eliminated by upward transport of water in late summer. Precipitation during the 1973-1974 water year percolated to a depth of about six meters in the open-bottom lysimeter and remains as a residual perched envelope. The increase over normal percolation was due in part to a residual envelope of higher moisture content from the previous water year. Results obtained indicate the advantages of Hanford as a site for a national repository for radioactive waste. (CH)
- Research Organization:
- Atlantic Richfield Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(45-1)-2130
- OSTI ID:
- 7282680
- Report Number(s):
- ARH-ST-123; TRN: 76-014984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Soil moisture transport during the 1974--1975 and 1975--1976 water years
Moisture movement in soils on the Hanford Reservation
Related Subjects
HAPO
HYDROLOGY
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE STORAGE
SOILS
DEPTH
DESERTS
GEOLOGY
MEASURING METHODS
MOISTURE
PERMEABILITY
SITE SELECTION
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
ARID LANDS
DIMENSIONS
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
STORAGE
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
510300* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)