Impact of extreme typhoon events on the fluvial discharge of particulate radiocesium in Fukushima Prefecture

Nakanishi, Takahiro; Oyama, Takuya; Hagiwara, Hiroki; Sakuma, Kazuyuki

Journal of Coastal Research, 114(SI), p.310 - 314, 2021/10

https://doi.org/10.2112/JCR-SI114-063.1

The two huge typhoons in 2019, Hagibis and Bualoi, caused enormous flood damage to Fukushima. On the basis of field observations over 6 years in Ukedo River near the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, sediment and Cs discharges from the river catchment were quantitatively evaluated. Approximately 90% of annual sediment and Cs discharges in 2019 was occupied during the typhoons Hagibis and Bualoi events. This sediment discharge was almost twice than the discharge during the largest ever flood event since the Fukushima nuclear accident, caused by typhoon Etau in September 2015. However, Cs discharge during Hagibis and Bualoi events was two-thirds that of Etau event, because the particulate Cs concentration in river water decreased during the observation period. Moreover, Cs discharge during two typhoon events in 2019 accounted for only 0.1% of the catchment Cs deposition and the impact of radiocesium to the coastal area was extremely limited.

Dose rate distributions across the flood plains in eastern Fukushima

Nakanishi, Takahiro; Oyama, Takuya; Hagiwara, Hiroki

KEK Proceedings 2017-6, p.107 - 111, 2017/11

https://lib-extopc.kek.jp/preprints/PDF/2017/1725/1725006.pdf

At riverbanks in six rivers (Odaka, Ukedo, Takase, Kuma, Tomioka and Kido rivers) of eastern Fukushima, dose rate distribution in the cross section had been observed from January 2013 to December 2016. Dose rates in the flood plain which were flooded periodically were different from the surroundings. In rivers without reservoirs (Odaka, Takase and Kuma rivers), dose rates in the flood plain were affected by average radiocesium inventory in the whole catchments. By contrast, in rivers with reservoirs (Ukedo, Tomioka and Kido rivers), dose rates in the flood plain were affected by those in the downstream area of reservoirs and the erosion effect.

Deposition of radiocesium on the river flood plains around Fukushima

Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Oyama, Takuya; Iijima, Kazuki; Onoe, Hironori; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Hagiwara, Hiroki

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 164, p.36 - 46, 2016/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.04.020

The environments of Fukushima have been contaminated due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accidents caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Released radio-cesium mainly affects radiation dose in the environment of Fukushima. It is concerned that redistribution of the radiation dose due to water discharge will be occurred due to the transportation of radio-cesium. Especially, deposition of the transferred soil particle with radio-cesium at flood plain with downstream area is possible cause of increasing radiation dose. Therefore, it is important to understand the influence of deposition behavior of radio-cesium on radiation dose. The paper discusses the deposition behaviors of radio-cesium at river based on the data obtained from the river investigations.

Synthesized research report in the second mid-term research phase; Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project and Geo-stability Project

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mizuno, Takashi; Sasao, Eiji; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Sato, Toshinori; Fujita, Tomoo; Sasamoto, Hiroshi; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Yokota, Hideharu; et al.

JAEA-Research 2015-007, 269 Pages, 2015/08

JAEA-Research-2015-007.pdf:68.65MB
JAEA-Research-2015-007(errata).pdf:0.07MB

We have synthesised the research results from Mizunami/Horonobe URLs and geo-stability projects in the second mid-term research phase. It could be used as technical bases for NUMO/Regulator in each decision point from sitting to beginning of disposal (Principal Investigation to Detailed Investigation Phase). High quality construction techniques and field investigation methods have been developed and implemented and these will be directly applicable to the National Disposal Program (along with general assessments of hazardous natural events and processes). It will be crucial to acquire technical knowledge on decisions of partial backfilling and final closure by actual field experiments in Mizunami/Horonobe URLs as main themes for the next phases.

Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project; Investigation report for the 2011 fiscal year

Nakayama, Masashi; Amano, Kenji; Tokiwa, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Yoichi; Oyama, Takuya; Amano, Yuki; Murakami, Hiroaki; Inagaki, Daisuke; Tsusaka, Kimikazu; Kondo, Keiji; et al.

JAEA-Review 2012-035, 63 Pages, 2012/09

JAEA-Review-2012-035.pdf:12.23MB

The Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project is planned to extend over a period 20 years. The investigations will be conducted in three phases, namely "Phase 1: Surface-based investigations", "Phase 2: Construction Phase" (investigations during construction of the underground facilities) and "Phase 3: Operation phase"(research in the underground facilities). This report summarizes the results of the investigations for the 2011 fiscal year (2011/2012). The investigations, which are composed of "Geoscientific research" and "R&D on geological disposal technology", were carried out according to "Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project Investigation Program for the 2011 Fiscal year". The results of these investigations, along with the results which were obtained in other departments of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), are properly offered to the implementations and the safety regulations. For the sake of this, JAEA has proceeded with the project in collaboration with experts from domestic and overseas research organisations.

Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project; Research and development plan (H22-H26)

Iwatsuki, Teruki; Sato, Haruo; Nohara, Tsuyoshi; Tanai, Kenji; Sugita, Yutaka; Amano, Kenji; Yabuuchi, Satoshi; Oyama, Takuya; Amano, Yuki; Yokota, Hideharu; et al.

JAEA-Research 2011-009, 73 Pages, 2011/06

JAEA-Research-2011-009.pdf:4.41MB

The research and development plan in Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory are summarized according to the 2nd Midterm Plan till 2014 fiscal year of JAEA. In this midterm, galleries and the infrastructures for the research and development up to the depth of 350 m are constructed by Private Financial Initiative (PFI). Additionally Phase 3: Operation phase at the galleries begins in parallel to Phase 2: Construction phase. In these phases various research and development including collaboration with other institutes are conducted at the galleries. Generallic applicable techniques on the subject of the investigation of geological environment, facility construction in deep underground and the reliability of geological deposal are developed during the phase. The feasibility and reliance of various technologies concerning geological disposal is demonstrated by widely opening the outcome to the public in the society.

Studies on planning and conducting for reducing water inflow due to underground construction in crystalline rock

Mikake, Shinichiro; Yamamoto, Masaru; Ikeda, Koki; Sugihara, Kozo; Takeuchi, Shinji; Hayano, Akira; Sato, Toshinori; Takeda, Shinichi; Ishii, Yoji; Ishida, Hideaki; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2010-026, 146 Pages, 2010/08

JAEA-Technology-2010-026.pdf:41.08MB
JAEA-Technology-2010-026-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:83.37MB

The Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU), one of the main facilities in Japan for research and development of the technology for high-level radioactive waste disposal, is under construction in Mizunami City. In planning the construction, it was necessary to get reliable information on the bedrock conditions, specifically the rock mass stability and hydrogeology. Therefore, borehole investigations were conducted before excavations started. The results indicated that large water inflow could be expected during the excavation around the Ventilation Shaft at GL-200m and GL-300m Access/Research Gallery. In order to reduce water inflow, pre-excavation grouting was conducted before excavation of shafts and research tunnels. Grouting is the injection of material such as cement into a rock mass to stabilize and seal the rock. This report describes the knowledge and lessons learned during the planning and conducting of pre-excavation grouting.

Study on hydrogeology on the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project annual report for fiscal year 2008

Takeuchi, Ryuji; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Oyama, Takuya; Keya, Hiromichi; Sato, Atsuya; Kosaka, Hiroshi; Takeda, Masaki; Daimaru, Shuji; Takeuchi, Shinji

JAEA-Research 2010-018, 133 Pages, 2010/08

JAEA-Research-2010-018.pdf:28.5MB

The Mizunami Underground Laboratory Project is a comprehensive research project investigating the deep underground environment within crystalline rock. The project goals of the project from surface-based investigation phase (Phase I) through to operation phase (Phase III) are: to establish techniques for investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment, and to develop a range of engineering for deep underground application. Currently, the project is under the construction phase (Phase II). One of the Phase II goals, which is for the project goal, was set to develop and revise models of the geological environment using the investigation results obtained during excavation, and determine and assess changes in the geological environment in response to excavation. This document presents the overview of results of the research and development on "hydrogeology" performed in fiscal year 2008, with regard to the Phase II goal.

Approaches for modelling transient unsaturated-saturated groundwater flow during and after construction

White, M. J.*; Guimer, J.*; Oyama, Takuya; Kosaka, Hiroshi; Robinson, P.*; Saegusa, Hiromitsu

Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management (ICEM '09/DECOM '09) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2009/10

https://doi.org/10.1115/ICEM2009-16242

JAEA has been developing modelling techniques to overcome these problems as part of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory. An integrated geological and hydrogeological modelling, and visualization system referred to as GEOMASS has been developed, which allows for transient unsaturated groundwater flow modelling in the presence of dynamic underground excavation models. The flow simulator in GEOMASS, FracAffinity, allows for such modelling by the application of sophisticated gridding techniques, allowing for modification of hydraulic conductivity in key zones, and by suitable modification of water retention models. The approaches that have been developed in GEOMASS have been tested through a series of models of increasing complexity, and the testing has demonstrated that there is no significant impact on estimates of regional groundwater flows or local estimates of flow into underground excavations.

GEOMASS system

Oyama, Takuya; Saegusa, Hiromitsu

JAEA-Testing 2008-007, 248 Pages, 2009/03

JAEA-Testing-2008-007.pdf:44.09MB

As a part of the research and development regarding characterisation of deep geological environment, the GEOMASS (GEOlogical Modelling Analysis And Simulation Software) system has been developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in order to carry out geological and hydrogeological modelling and groundwater flow simulation and so on. The GEOMASS system integrates a commercial geological interpretation system (Earth Vision), which is used for geological modelling and visualisation, with a proprietary code for groundwater flow (FracAffinity). This integrated system allows users to make rapid improvement of models as data increases. Also, it is possible to perform more realistic groundwater flow simulation due to the capability of modelling the rock mass as a continuum with discrete hydro-structural features in the rock. This paper consists of "Overview of GEOMASS system", "FracAffinity Theoretical Background" and "FracAffinity User Guide" and is edited as a GEOMASS system manual. "Overview of GEOMASS system" describes the outline of this system. "FracAffinity Theoretical Background" describes the information of technical background of FracAffinity software. "FracAffinity User Guide" describes the structure of the FracAffinity input files, the usage of FracAffinity Interface and flow-solver.