A mountain-scale model for characterizing unsaturated flow and transport in fractured tuffs of Yucca Mountain
Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

A mountain-scale model for characterizing unsaturated flow and transport in fractured tuffs of Yucca Mountain

Abstract

This paper presents a large-scale modeling study characterizing fluid flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed underground repository site for storing high-level radioactive waste. The modeling study is 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 Yucca Mountain's highly heterogeneous, unsaturated, fractured porous rock. The modeling approach is based on a dual-continuum formulation. Using different conceptual models of unsaturated flow, various scenarios of current and future climate conditions and their effects on the unsaturated zone are evaluated to aid in the assessment of the repository's system performance. These models are calibrated against field-measured data. Model-predicted flow and transport processes under current and future climates are discussed.

Main Content
For improved accessibility of PDF content, download the file to your device.
Current View