Hydrological modelling for the safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal

The hydrological modeling process is similar to the one followed for most natural phenomena. Basically, it consits of four steps: conceptualization, calibration, prediction and uncertainty analysis. This process has been applied in hydrology, with various degrees of success, to standard aquifers, including those that might be representative of intermediate and low level waste repositories. However, its application to high level waste repositories is very difficult due to lack of experience, expected scarcity of data, long prediction horizons, etc. The modeling process is illustrated by showing an application that can be considered typical of moderate permeability media. 28 refs., 9 figs