A review of geophysical surveying methods used in the Radioactive Waste Disposal Programmes of Belguim, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom

This report presents the results of a literature review of the application of geophysical surveying methods by four European (Belgium, Finland, Sweden and United Kingdom) radioactive waste disposal programmes. We provide summaries of the investigation programmes undertaken in these countries and the geological environment at each of the sites investigated, a review of the geophysical survey work completed at each site and, where possible, an indication of the success or otherwise of these techniques in meeting their intended objectives. We have concentrated the review on those methods that are likely to be of most relevance to the situation in Japan and only briefly comment on methods used, for example, in the characterisation of the near surface glacial deposits at Sellafield. Only published material and reports readily accessible to the authors have been consulted during this review. We are aware of a number of unrestricted reports that are relevant to this review that we have not been able to examine because we have not been able to obtain copies during the review period. Recommendations of the methods that might be considered for the Japanese programme at the various survey scales are made. These include those techniques that can be used at present and those that could be developed for the Japanese situation if appropriate.