In the evaluation of the stability of radioactive waste disposal, it is imperative to take into account the concept of the redox front. Initially, this front is typically observed near the surface. However, if the hydraulic gradient increases due to the construction of a disposal facility, the redox front can potentially transport deeper into the geological environment through groundwater flow. This transport triggers changes in the geochemical characteristics, potentially diminishing the natural buffering capacity of the bedrock. Consequently, it is necessary to characterize both the unsaturated and saturated zones in the disposal site. In this context, a tracer test is a useful method to identify the characteristics of the site from the surface to the deep geological environment where the disposal facility can be located. Therefore, this study also aims to establish a methodology enabling a comprehensive understanding of the hydrogeochemical characteristics through the tracer test that can be applied to future sites for research URL (Underground Research Laboratory) or radioactive waste disposal in Korea. For the tracer test, a UNIT (UNsaturated zone Insitu Test facility) was built within the KAERI and five wells with a depth of 24 m were installed in 2022. Before conducting the test, to determine the geochemical background characteristics of the site, topsoil and soils at depths of 30 cm, 60 cm, and 90 cm were collected. Additionally, a groundwater sample was obtained from the newly installed well. Soil samples were analyzed for soil texture, moisture content, total and exchange cations, anions, and heavy metals. Similarly, the groundwater sample was analyzed for cations, anions, and trace elements. The outcomes of these comprehensive analyses will serve as the baseline values in the hydrogeochemical changes after the tracer test. This includes changes in soil composition, water quality, precipitation/dissolution processes, and mineral phases. Furthermore, these results will be provided as input parameters for surface-underground interface models in future studies.

Surface environmental factors such as climate change can affect the safety of the disposal system by changing groundwater recharge or flow. Therefore, it is important to identify surface environmental factors and hydrogeological factors to evaluate long-term changes in hydrogeological environment of a disposal system. In particular, evapotranspiration is an important to be considered because it loses 70% of rainfall and has a great effect on groundwater recharge. Evapotranspiration can be estimated using simple or complex models based on meteorological data. Meteorological data from January 2010 to December 2022 were collected from 44 Automatic Synoptic Observation Systems (ASOS) of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), which observe factors necessary for calculating evapotranspiration. For the estimation of evapotranspiration through simple models, temperature-based models (Blaney-Criddle method, modified Blaney-Criddle method, Hargreaves-Samani method) and radiation-based models (Simple Abtew method, Makkink method, Prietley-Taylor method, Turc method, Solar radiation-Maximum temperature method) were used. The calculation of evapotranspiration through the complex model used the Penman-Monteith method, which is used as a standard model in the USA, Japan, and FAO. By comparing the evapotranspiration calculated by complex and simple model, methods with small errors were identified each region. In addition, long-term climate change scenarios were applied to confirm changes in long-term evapotranspiration in South Korea. The results of this study will be used to find alternative models in the case of missing data in the Penman-Monteith model, which requires a lot of meteorological data, and can be used as basic data for calculating groundwater recharge that can affect the disposal system in the future.

The geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel is one of the important problems to be solved worldwide. For the safety of the geological disposal, disposal facility is recommended to be constructed in the deep reducing environment of host rocks. As host rocks, rock salt, argillaceous (clay) rock, and crystalline rock have been considered as stable geological formations in various countries. Although various studies have been conducted on crystalline rocks in Korea, there are still few studies on hydrogeochemical evolution in the deep and reducing environment related to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify hydrogeochemical evolution process in granite aquifer which can affect the stability of disposal facility. Groundwater samples for isotope and chemical analysis were collected quarterly adjacent to KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel). As the depth increased, the groundwater changed from Ca-HCO3 type to Na-HCO3 type under the influence of silicate mineral weathering, and the fluorine concentration increased due to the dissolution of fluorine-bearing minerals. However, hydrogeochemical evolution according to the depth was not observed in some wells because of a hydraulic connection through the fracture zone. In addition, the behavior of nitrate and redox-sensitive metals (Fe, Mn, U, Mo) in groundwater was clearly different in the redox condition. Considering these hydrogeochemical processes and hydrogeological factors, a conceptual model of granite aquifers in and around KURT was established. The results of this study will be used as basic data to understand the hydrogeochemical processes and to evaluate and predict the behavior of radionuclides in granite aquifer system.