Shaw, R.P.; Auton, C.A.; Baptie, B.; Brocklehurst, S.; Dutton, M.; Evans, D.J.; Field, L.P.; Gregory, S.P.; Henderson, E.; Hughes, A.; Milodowski, A.E.; Parkes, D.; Rees, J.G.; Small, J.; Smith, N.; Tye, A.; West, J.M.. 2012 Potential natural changes and implications for a UK GDF. British Geological Survey, 198pp. (CR/12/127N) (Unpublished)
A period of one million years following closure has been used by RWMD when considering the
post-closure safety case for a geological disposal facility (GDF). It is during this period that
evolution of the near-field and local geosphere as a result of GDF construction and operation will
be at its most rapid and radioactivity of the emplaced waste will be at their highest levels.
Significant effort has been spent internationally on identifying the many natural processes that
may affect the evolution of the geosphere over this timescale and the contribution of those
processes to GDF performance. The purpose of this report is to identify which processes are
relevant to geosphere evolution in this time period around a generic GDF in the UK. Previous
work has identified tectonic effects, climate change effects, uplift, subsidence, volcanism and
diagenesis as key concerns. The potential impact of each of these processes on a generic UK
GDF, constructed according to a multiple barrier concept and sited at a depth of between 200 and
1000 m in a suitable host rock, is outlined in the following sections: tectonic related uplift and
subsidence; seismicity, tectonic history and volcanism; climate change and glaciation and
weathering and erosion.
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