A radiocarbon study of groundwater in the western Nevada Test Site and vicinity

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Spencer, Elizabeth B

Issue Date

1990

Type

Thesis

Language

en_US

Keywords

groundwater ages , Nevada Test Site , isotopic correction model , carbon isotope data , wells , springs , groundwater carbon sources , windblown dust , soil carbonate products , component sensitivity analysis , Discrete State Compartment Model , system recharge concentration , Mackay Science Project

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

Apparent 14C groundwater ages for western Nevada Test Site (NTS) and vicinity were adjusted using an isotopic correction model and carbon isotope data from 55 wells and springs. Groundwater carbon sources include plant-derived co2(g)' Primary windblown dust, and secondary soil carbonate products. A {13csoil factor of -12.0 °/00 was arrived at through analyses of fifteen NTS soils and was used to adjust the apparent 14C-groundwater ages. "Corrected" ages range from 1,130 years to 26,700 years and in some instances are younger, by as much as 8000 years, than the apparent "uncorrected" ages. The adjusted 14C-ages were used as calibration data in a Discrete State Compartment (DSC) Model to verify the results of a 1987 deuterium-calibrated model for the same region. A component sensitivity analysis reveals that cell 3 of the flow network is most sensitive to perturbations in system recharge concentration.

Description

Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.

Citation

Publisher

University of Nevada, Reno

License

In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)

Journal

Volume

Issue

PubMed ID

DOI

ISSN

EISSN