Stephen A. Vigeant: Shaw E&I Carl A. Mazzola: Shaw E&I H. Wesley Nance: Washington TRU Solutions Consideration of Micrometeorological Trends Consideration of Micrometeorological Trends Associated with WIPP Meteorological Data October 9, 2003

OutlineOutline F WIPP facility and mission F Description of meteorological monitoring program program F Meteorological data validation process F Effect of micrometeorological trends on data validation and use validation and use F Conclusions

WIPP Facility and Mission F WIPP – Waste Isolation Pilot Plant F Underground disposal of Transuranic (TRU) waste and mixed TRU waste (TRU) waste and mixed TRU waste F Research and production of nuclear weapons and other defense related activities and other defense related activities F Safe, permanent and environmentally sound F 37,000 shipments over next 35 years

WIPP Location

WIPP Facility

WIPP Meteorological Monitoring Program F 50-meter tower F Instrumentation at 2, 10, and 50 meters F Wind speed, wind direction, temperature F Ground level pressure, relative humidity, precipitation, solar radiation precipitation, solar radiation F Data logger

WIPP Meteorological Monitoring Program

Data Validation Process F Parameter screening criteria F Manual scan of data F Calibration and surveillance notes F Review of surface maps F Professional judgement

Parameter Screening Criteria ParameterDescriptionFlag Wind SpeedValue < 0.3 m/sBelow threshold speed Value > 22 m/sAbove climatology No change in 4 hrsCheck Bearing 10-m > 50-mUnusual occurrence > 4 m/s changeAbrupt change Wind DirectionValue < 0 o Out of range Value > 360 o Out of range > 50 o change, WS > 4 m/sUnusual occurrence meter > 25 o difference, Unusual occurrence WS > 4 m/s

Parameter Screening Criteria ParameterDescriptionFlag TemperatureValue < -25 o CBelow climatology Value > 45 o C Above climatology > 6 o C change in 2 hrs Unusual occurrence > 11 o C change in 3 hrs Unusual occurrence < 0.5 o C change in 12 hrs Unusual occurrence

Parameter Screening Criteria ParameterDescriptionFlag TemperatureValue > 1.5 o C/100 mUnusual occurrence Temperature Value > 1.5 o C/100 mUnusual occurrence DifferenceValue < -1.5 o C/100 nightUnusual occurrence Value > 6.25 o C/100 m, Unusual  T-wind 2-m WS > 4 m/s Value < o C/100 m, Unusual  T-wind 2-m WS > 4 m/s Value > -0.4 and -0.4 and <0.4 o C, Unusual  T-wind 10-m WS < 1 m/s > 2 o C change in 15 minAbrupt change Value > 15 o C/100 m Unusual inversion Value < 3.4 o C/100 m Autoconvective lapse

Meteorological Data Applications F Database development for dispersion modeling F Annual site environmental report preparation F Support of emergency response actions F Support of ambient radon concentration predictions predictions F Determination of safe conditions for crane/raised platform work platform work

Micrometeorological Trends F 10-m wind speeds > 50-m wind speeds F > 25 deg difference in 10- and 50-m wind directions directions F Occurrences of autoconvective lapse rates F Occurrences of extreme inversions F Inversions persisting into mid morning

Micrometeorological Trends F Semi-arid desert climate  Large vertical variations F Nocturnal boundary layer F Decoupling of surface layer F Low-level jet

10-m > 50-m Wind Speeds

> 25 o Difference in Wind Directions

Effects on Data Applications  Data recovery F Atmospheric dispersion calculations F Emergency response F Ambient radon predictions  Data recovery F Atmospheric dispersion calculations F Emergency response F Ambient radon predictions

Conclusions  Awareness of micrometeorological trends F Unusual meteorological regime F Avoid invalidating good data F Data recovery F Impacts on applications  Awareness of micrometeorological trends F Unusual meteorological regime F Avoid invalidating good data F Data recovery F Impacts on applications