Work

A Double-Layered Seismo-Electric Method for Characterizing Groundwater Seepage Fields in High-Level Waste Disposal

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Groundwater seepage plays a critical role in the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal, yet its characterization remains challenging due to the complexity of fractured rock media. This study introduces the Double-Layered Seismo-Electric Method (DSEM) for imaging groundwater seepage fields with enhanced sensitivity and spatial resolution. By integrating elastic wave propagation with electrokinetic coupling in a stratified framework, DSEM improves the detection of hydraulic gradients and preferential flow pathways. Application at a representative disposal site demonstrates that the method effectively delineates seepage channels and estimates hydraulic conductivity, providing reliable input parameters for groundwater flow modeling. These results highlight the potential of DSEM as a non-invasive geophysical technique to support safety assessments and long-term monitoring in deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w17192848

Authors: Jing Fan, Yusufujiang Meiliya, Shunchuan Wu, Guoping Du, Liang Chen

Institutions: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Zhaotong University, Tongji University, China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology

Language: English

Topic: Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods

Subfield: Geophysics

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137