Applied Stochastic Subsurface Hydrology & Environmental Geophysics. (
06002.01.262). March 16-18, 2003; Tucson, Arizona. C. Dinwiddie and R. Fedors
.
CENTER FOR NUCLEAR WASTE REGULATORY ANALYSES TRIP REPORT
SUBJECT:
Applied Stochastic Subsurface Hydrology & Environmental Geophysics (06002.01.262)
DATE/PLACE:
March 16-18, 2003; Tucson, Arizona
AUTHORS:
C. Dinwiddie and R. Fedors
DISTRIBUTION: DIVISION 20 W. Patrick B. Sagar CNWRA Directors CNWRA Mgrs. Hydrology Group D. Ferrill G. Walter R. Green K. Smart S. Gonzalez D. Hooper M. Necsoiu
NRC-NMSS W. Reamer B. Meehan D. DeMarco CE.-Whitt 7 L. Kokajko E. Collins A. Campbell J. Guttmann T. McCartin J. Bradbury D. Brooks J. Pohle H. ArIt K. Compton J. Peckenpaugh A. Fetter D. Codell
SwRl Record Copy B, IQS L. Gutierrez
CENTER FOR NUCLEAR WASTE REGULATORY ANALYSES TRIP REPORT SUBJECT:
Applied Stochastic Subsurface Hydrology & Environmental Geophysics
DATE/PLACE:
March 16-18, 2003; Tucson, Arizona
AUTHOR:
C. Dinwiddie and R. Fedors
PERSONS PRESENT:
Cynthia L. Dinwiddie and Randall W. Fedors of the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) attended the Applied Stochastic Subsurface Hydrology & Environmental Geophysics by University of Arizona staff and contractors. Course instructors were Jim Yeh (University of Arizona), Jeff Daniels (Ohio State University), and Raz Khaleel (Fluor Federal Service). A list of other attendees follows: Company
Name
Email Address
Hans D. Art
U.S. NRC
hda(anrc.gov
Gopal Bhatt
Penn State University
qxb913 osu.edu
Keith L. Compton
U.S. NRC
klcfainrc.aov
Michael F. Fahy
USGS
mffahvyusgs.oov
Thomas Fenstemaker
University of Nevada-Reno
tomf_?unr.edu
Scott C. James
Sandia National Laboratories
sciames(a)sandia.qov
Timothy C. Johnson
Boise State University
tcid(ciss.boisestate.edu
Catherine L. Jones
New Mexico Tech
kate(inmt.edu
Yong Jung
North Carolina State U
viunXaE)ncsu.edu
Joseph F. Kanney
Sandia National Laboratories
ifkanne~absandia.gov
Thomas B. Kirchner
New Mexico State U
kirchner()cemrc.nmsu.edu
Xiaoyi Liu
University of Iowa
G. Kumar Mahinthakumar
North Carolina State U
pmkumarencsu.edu
Jon M. Peckenpaugh
U.S. NRC
jmonrc.pqov
Kay W. Vugrin
Sandia National Laboratories
kwvuarihsandia.qov
2
iaovi-liuauiowa.edu
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF TRIP: CNWRA staff attended the short course on stochastic subsurface hydrology and environmental geophysics in support of work related to the Flow Paths in the Unsaturated Zone Integrated Subissue. A very detailed course description is located at: htto://tian.hwr.arizona.edu/veh/ short course.html. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES: The course began with a review of saturated zone hydrology and then proceeded to the more general case of variably saturated hydrology. Modeling exercises introduced course participants to the University of Arizona-developed variably saturated flow and transport code, VSAFT2. Lectures followed that dealt with conceptual models, lumped parameter models, small-scale active source hydraulic and electrical resistivity tomography, and large-scale naturally occurring tomography (e.g., lightning, river-stage, and earthquake processes) for estimating hydrologic parameters, and traditional geostatistical methods that generally create artificially smoothed representations of subsurface heterogeneity. Additionally, Jeff Daniels lectured on geophysical field methods for noninvasive site characterization, with a special focus on ground-penetrating radar. Lecture notes and slide shows are available for download at: http://tian.hwr.arizona.edu/veh/ assheg.html. SUMMARY OF PERTINENT POINTS: Raz Khaleel provided a link to the RETC code user's manual, an online resource for van Genuchten, Brooks-Corey and Mualem and Burdine parameters for various soil types (www.ussl.ars.usda.aov/models/retc.HTM). Soil data specific to the 200 Area of the Hanford Reservation are available in a technical report by Khaleel and Freeman (1995), located at www.osti.cov/bridae/. Conversation with Jeff Daniels led to the realization that he led borehole geophysical studies at Yucca Mountain while he was with the United States Geological Survey in the early 1980s. Results of these geophysical studies led to rapid and definitive identification of the vertical welding profile of ignimbrites at Yucca Mountain, but the Survey is said to have preferred handson, time-intensive core analyses to arrive at nearly identical interpretations. Reports documenting the Yucca Mountain borehole geophysical studies are listed in the reference section at the end of this trip report. Given a sufficient density of subsurface hydrologic data, conventional geostatistical estimates of subsurface property distributions can reproduce known property values at discrete locations with moderate amounts of smoothing in regions in-between measured property values. Subsurface hydrologic property data are generally sparse, however, being available only from regions in the immediate vicinity of boreholes. For this reason, the course instructors are developing active collaborations between hydrologists and geophysicists because it is possible, using surface-based geophysical tools, to non-invasively sound the near-subsurface to acquire spatially continuous datasets of relevance to hydrology. Electrical resistivity methods, for example, are sensitive to porosity, spatial changes in moisture content and contaminant concentration, for example. 3
The short course concluded with a call for ustochastic fusion" of hydrological and geophysical information to improve the knowledge base and reduce uncertainties during basin, watershed, or site characterization and modeling efforts. Dr. Yeh predicts the future of hydrogeophysics will depend on development of autonomic network computing, smart simulation management using discrete event simulation and adaptive mesh refinement, terabyte-scale data management capabilities, synchronization and integration when processing different types of contributing information, and smart sensor network deployment and management. Anticipated results of developing this path-forward are real-time monitoring, characterization, and accurate forecasting of hydrologic processes. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: None. PENDING ACTIONS: None. RECOMMENDATIONS: This course is recommended as a professional development activity for CNWRA and NRC hydrology staff. The course will likely take place during the week of Spring Break at the University of Arizona, although the primary course instructor is willing to travel dependent on level of expressed interest. Class size is limited to 30 people. REFERENCES: Daniels, J.J. uHole-to-Surface Resistivity Measurements." Geophysics. Vol. 48, No. 1 pp. 87-97.1983. Daniels, J.J. and J.H. Scott. Interpretation of Hole-to-Surface Resistivity Measurements at Yucca Mountain, Nevada Test Site." U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, No. 81-1336. 1981. Daniels, J.J., J.H. Scott, and J.T. Hagstrum. uInterpretation of Geophysical Well-Log Measurements in Drill Holes UE25a-4, -5, -6, and -7, Yucca Mountain, Nevada Test Site." U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, No. 81-0389. 1981. Hagstrum, J.T., J.J. Daniels, and J.H. Scott. "Analysis of the Magnetic Susceptibility well log in drill hole UE25a-5, Yucca Mountain, Nevada Test Site." U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, No. 80-1263. 1980. Khaleel R. and E.J. Freeman. 'Variability and Scaling of Hydraulic Properties for 200 Area Soils, Hanford Site." Technical Report WHC-EP-0883. Washington, D.C.: DOE. 1995.
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SIGNATURES: Cynffia L. Dinwiddie Sen~V Research En ineer
Date
R ndall W. Fedors Senior Research Engineer
Date
a'-//; g/s 5
CONCURRENCE:
-
Gordon Wittmeyer, A Earth Sciences
tant Director
Datu
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