Investigation
of the Effects of Evaporation and Infiltration on Vadose Zone Pore-Fluid
d180
Values at Hanford, Using ToughReact
Michael J. Singleton, Eric L. Sonnenthal, Donald J. DePaolo, and Mark E. Conrad
Contact: Michael Singleton, 510/486-5241, MJSingleton@lbl.gov
Research Objectives
The fraction of rainfall that percolates deep into the vadose zone in arid regions is difficult to predict, but important for understanding groundwater recharge and contaminant transport. At Hanford, where a large amount of radionuclide contamination is present in the vadose zone above the water table, it is especially important to know the water infiltration flux, because this determines how rapidly radionuclides will reach groundwater. This study is aimed at evaluating the use of numerical models in conjunction with water isotope data to measure infiltration flux in arid regions.
To continue reading more about this project, view the 1-page pdf here.
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 Model results for a vertical Hanford Site vadose zone profile of oxygen isotope compositions with different infiltration rates (q), compared with pore-water samples taken just after the wet season from a lysimeter where the infiltration rate is known to be 55 mm/year
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