Flow in the unsaturated zone around a shallow subsurface radioactive waste trench: Interpretation of an infiltration–drainage test at the Chernobyl Pilot Site

• Published in: Applied geochemistry Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 1297 - 1303
• Main Authors: Van Meir, N., Gaudet, J.P., Phrommavanh, V., Laurent, J.P., Bugai, D., Biron, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2012
• Subjects: drainage; edge effects; hysteresis; infiltrometers; mathematical models; monitoring; radioactive waste; rain; soil profiles; topsoil; unsaturated flow; water balance; water content

► Hysteresis does not play a major role in this case (sandy deposits). ► 2D axi-symmetric model is needed to reproduce field observations, i.e. boundary effects play a role. ► Geological layering needs to be accounted for. ► Optimisation of parameter values carried out with HYDRUS gave sensible resu...