The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) disaster that occurred in Ukraine on April 26, 1986, was one of the most devastating in human history. Using this as a case study, the AGU monograph Groundwater Vulnerability: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster is devoted to the problem of groundwater vulnerability, where the results of long-term field and modeling investigations of radionuclide transport in soil and groundwater, within the Ukrainian part of the Dnieper River basin (Kyiv region of Ukraine), are discussed. The authors provide a comprehensive review of existing literature on the assessment of groundwater vulnerability and then describe an improved methodology, which is developed based on integration of the methods of hydrogeological zonation and modeling of anomalously fast migration of radioactive contaminants from the land surface toward groundwater. This volume also includes the evaluation of the effect of preferential and episodic flow on transport of radionuclides toward the aquifers and risk assessment of groundwater vulnerability, which can further assist future researchers in developing remediation technologies for improving drinking water quality. Further, this volume sheds light on the consequences of groundwater contamination from nuclear disasters and assists with assessing the risks associated with contamination and developing effective remediation technologies. Volume highlights include discussions of the following: Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to contamination from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Novel analytical results of the 25-year investigations of groundwater contamination caused by Chernobyl-born radionuclides The wealth of data on different modes of radioactive transport in the atmosphere, water, and soils, and along the food chains The hydrogeological and physico-chemical processes and factors in groundwater contaminated zones The applicability of commonly used methods of the evaluation of groundwater vulnerability A unique method of fluid dynamics that involves an anomalously fast migration of contaminants through zones of preferential flow from the land surface toward groundwater Building confidence in the assessment of migration pathways of radionuclides in the biosphere Assessment and prediction of the consequences of the nuclear accident, which can shed light on protection from global nuclear accidents Analogue information for different nuclear waste disposal and environmental projects around the world

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) disaster that occurred in Ukraine on April 26, 1986, was one of the most devastating in human history. Using this as a case study, the AGU monograph Groundwater Vulnerability: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster is devoted to the problem of groundwater vulnerability, where the results of long-term field and modeling investigations of radionuclide transport in soil and groundwater, within the Ukrainian part of the Dnieper River basin (Kyiv region of Ukraine), are discussed. The authors provide a comprehensive review of existing literature on the assessment of groundwater vulnerability and then describe an improved methodology, which is developed based on integration of the methods of hydrogeological zonation and modeling of anomalously fast migration of radioactive contaminants from the land surface toward groundwater. This volume also includes the evaluation of the effect of preferential and episodic flow on transport of radionuclides toward the aquifers and risk assessment of groundwater vulnerability, which can further assist future researchers in developing remediation technologies for improving drinking water quality. Further, this volume sheds light on the consequences of groundwater contamination from nuclear disasters and assists with assessing the risks associated with contamination and developing effective remediation technologies.Volume highlights include discussions of the following:* Assessment of groundwater vulnerability to contamination from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster* Novel analytical results of the 25-year investigations of groundwater contamination caused by Chernobyl-born radionuclides* The wealth of data on different modes of radioactive transport in the atmosphere, water, and soils, and along the food chains* The hydrogeological and physico-chemical processes and factors in groundwater contaminated zones* The applicability of commonly used methods of the evaluation of groundwater vulnerability* A unique method of fluid dynamics that involves an anomalously fast migration of contaminants through zones of preferential flow from the land surface toward groundwater* Building confidence in the assessment of migration pathways of radionuclides in the biosphere* Assessment and prediction of the consequences of the nuclear accident, which can shed light on protection from global nuclear accidents* Analogue information for different nuclear waste disposal and environmental projects around the world

Abstract vIntroduction: Importance of Lessons Learned from Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability at Chernobyl vii1. Methods of Groundwater Vulnerability and Protectability Assessment 11.1. Method of hydrogeological zoning 21.2. Index methods 31.3. Parametric methods 91.4. Modeling methods 192. Chernobyl-Born Radionuclides in Geological Environment 253.Preferential Flow and Migration Zones in Geological Environment 393.1. State of problem study 393.2. PFMz classification and occurrence 413.3. Methodological approaches of PFMZ study 473.4. Indicators of PFMZ activity in depressions 533.5. Preliminary evaluations of PFMZ influence on upper groundwater 573.6. Practical importance of PFMZ 604. Methodology of Groundwater Vulnerability and Protectability Assessment 654.1. General consideration 654.2. Vulnerability and protectability assessment for upper groundwater (Unconfined Aquifer) 704.3. Vulnerability and protectability assessment for confined aquifers 735. Groundwater Vulnerability and Protectability to Chernobyl-Born Radionuclide 815.1. Upper groundwater 815.2. Confined aquifers 936. Summary 101References 105Index 115