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Vadose Zone Monitoring System for Site Characterization and Transport Modeling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

J. B. Sisson ,
A. L. Schafer  and
J. M. Hubbell
J. B. Sisson
Affiliation:
Integrated Earth Sciences Dept., Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2107, jys@inel.gov
A. L. Schafer
Affiliation:
Integrated Earth Sciences Dept., Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2107, jys@inel.gov
J. M. Hubbell
Affiliation:
Integrated Earth Sciences Dept., Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-2107, jys@inel.gov
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Abstract

Monitoring the vadose zone below buried waste provides an early warning of contaminate Advanced Tensiometer transport toward the groundwater. To quantify the transport mechanisms, vadose zone hydraulic characteristics and the physical variables need to be obtained. We have designed and implemented a Vadose Zone Monitoring System (VZMS) to monitor or sample the 3 state variables of the vadose zone, water potential, water content and chemical concentration. The state variables are monitored using an Advanced Tensiometer (AT), a borehole water content sensor (BWCS) and a vacuum lysimeter, respectively. This system was installed at the Savannah River Site (SRS) E-Area disposal site, where low level wastes have been disposed of in shallow trenches. The system has operated for The system has operated for several months providing nearly continuous water content and water potential data. The vacuum lysimeters were activated on a quarterly schedule. Installation details and an example data set are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the VZMS, and demonstrate the utility of the VZMS as an indicator of contaminant transport.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 608: Symposium QQ – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIII , 1999 , 161
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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References

REFERENCES

1 Hubbell, J.M. and Sisson, J.B., 1998, “Advanced tensiometer for shallow or deep soil water potential measurements,” Soil Sci., Vol. 163, No. 4, pp. 271–276.Google Scholar
2 Sisson, J.B. and Hubbell, J.M., 1998, Water potentials to depths of 30 meters in fractured basalt and sedimentary interbeds. Indirect Methods for Estimating the Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated soils. (ed) Genuchten, M. Th. Van, Riverside, CA.Google Scholar