Modeling solute transport through saturated zone ground water at 10km scale: Example from the Yucca Mountain license application

This paper presents a study of solute transport through ground water in the saturated zone and the resulting breakthrough curves (BTCs), using a field-scale numerical model that incorporates the processes of advection, dispersion, matrix diffusion in fractured volcanic formations, sorption, and coll...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of contaminant hydrology 2010-09, Vol.117 (1-4), p.7-25
Main Authors: Kelkar, Sharad, Ding, Mei, Chu, Shaoping, Robinson, Bruce A, Arnold, Bill, Meijer, Arend, Eddebbarh, Al-Aziz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Boundaries
Dispersions
Formations
Groundwater
Licenses
Mathematical models
Mountains
Transport
Uncertainty
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Summary:This paper presents a study of solute transport through ground water in the saturated zone and the resulting breakthrough curves (BTCs), using a field-scale numerical model that incorporates the processes of advection, dispersion, matrix diffusion in fractured volcanic formations, sorption, and colloid-facilitated transport. Such BTCs at compliance boundaries are often used as performance measures for a site. The example considered here is that of the saturated zone study prepared for the Yucca Mountain license application. The saturated zone at this site occurs partly in volcanic, fractured rock formations and partly in alluvial formations. This paper presents a description of the site and the ground water flow model, the development of the conceptual model of transport, model uncertainties, model validation, and the influence of uncertainty in input parameters on the downstream BTCs at the Yucca Mountain site.
ISSN:0169-7722
1873-6009
DOI:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2010.05.003