Paleohydrogeology to help evaluate waste disposal sites

One of the keys to a successful assessment of the performance of a radioactive waste disposal is to assess the variability of hydrogeologic processes that could occur at the site over the long time periods. Unfortunately, hydrological testing, in the form of pump tests and pressure head measurements are done over a matter of days or months. Paleohydrogeology allows to assess the past geologic record of the hydrology of an area. In this way the variability of the hydrology over long periods of time can be established. (author)