DOE Vadose Zone Science and Technology Roadmap: A National Program of Research and Development

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DOE Vadose ZoneScience and TechnologyRoadmap
A National Program of Researchand Development

• Stephen J. Kowall, Ph.D.

Program Manager, INEEL Complex-Wide Vadose Zone
NGA
April 12, 2001
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The Vadose Zone in Context
Information for the Future
Surveillance
Durability
Fate and Transport
Monitoring
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The Ultimate Vadose Zone Challenge Reducing
Uncertainty in Models Decisions

• Models must be appropriate for the intended
  purpose -- not too complex or overly simplistic,
  and yet pertinent to the problem
• Models must be based on Continuous Improvements
  in Science and Data
• Uncertainty must be addressed
• Quantifying Uncertainty will Assist in
  Environmental Decision Making

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CONCEPTUALIZATION
DECISION MAKING PROCESS
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ROADMAPPING DEFINED

• Strategic Technology Planning Used by Industry
  and Government to
• Develop a Common Perspective on Possible Future
  (10-30 years) ST Needs and
• Make Better Research and Development (RD)
  Investment Decisions
• Intended To Serve as Pathways to the Future
• Identify Capability Gaps in ST
• Provide a Structure for Organizing Technology
  Forecasts
• Communicate ST Needs to Users and Research
  Community

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The Decision-Making Process and the Roadmap
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The Roadmap Team/FY 2000
The Team (62 Representatives)
The Executive Committee Chair Dan
Stephens, DB Stephens Assoc. Vice-chair Steve
Kowall, INEEL Frank Parker, Vanderbilt
University Lorne Everett, IT Group Ed Weeks,
USGS Carl Enfield, EPA Cathy Vogel, DoD John
Wilson, New Mexico Tech Darwin Ellis,
Schlumberger Corp. Dave Borns, SNL Rien Van
Genuchten, USDA
State Government 2
International 5
Other Federal Agency 11
DOE Laboratories 41
Industry 16
University 25
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Where Are We In The Planning Process

• Under Secretary Of Energy for Energy, Science and
  Environment Challenges INEEL to Lead Development
  of National Vadose Zone ST Roadmap -
• Executive Committee Charted and Meets to Shape
  Project Scope and Direction - March 2000
• Preliminary Draft Roadmap Published - September
  2000
• Briefing to DOE Management - October 2000
• Stakeholder Meetings Initiated - March 2001
• Final Roadmap to be Published - September 2001

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Stakeholder Outreach

• To broaden public understanding of Vadose Zone
  issues and program concept
• To improve the draft Roadmap and Scope
  Implementation Plan by integrating the insights
  and wisdom of others
• To cultivate relationships for the long term with
  scientists, DOE staff, other agencies and a
  variety of interested stakeholders

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National Vadose Zone ST Roadmap Web Site
Website http//vadosezone.inel.gov/ Program
Manager e-mail kowasj_at_inel.gov
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National Vadose Zone Challenges

• Knowledge Gaps in Basic Subsurface Processes Are
  Sources of Uncertainty to Address and Bound
• Stewardship Responsibilities Require Increased
  Monitoring of Subsurface Processes
• Our Vision A Four-Dimensional Description of
  Relevant Vadose Zone Processes Parameters

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Vadose Zone Roadmap Research And Development
Thrusts

• Develop Better Methods to Identify and Track
  (Monitor) Contaminants
• Achieve Better Measuring of Hydrologic Variables
• Better Integrate Geophysical and Hydrologic Data
• Develop Advances in Improved Sensors and
  Instrumentation

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Research and Development Thrusts (contd)

• Develop More Accurate Models Simulations
• Develop A Vadose Zone Problem Solving Environment
  (PSE) - A Software Priority
• Develop A Dedicated High Power Computing
  Capability
• Develop Highly Accessible Data and Model Library

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SUCCESS GOALS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

• DOEs RD Capabilities to Support Solutions to
  Major Environmental Management Problems
  Significantly Strengthened
• Reliable Approaches to Long Term Stewardship
  Monitoring and Predicting Established
• Strong Partnering with States and Other Federal
  Agencies
• Order of Magnitude (rather than incremental)
  Improvements over Existing Technologies
• Subsurface Science Base and Science Culture Built

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BACK UP SLIDES
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Knowledge Gaps in Basic Subsurface Processes Are
Major Sources of Uncertainty to Address and Bound

• These processes are complex (not just
  complicated) to study and understand because they
  do not occur in isolation.
• Processes that are closely associated (coupled)
  and nonlinear in their interactions include
• Flow of fluids through variably saturated media
• Transport rates of contaminants
• Biogeochemical processes

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Stewardship Responsibilities Require Increased
Knowledge of Physical Properties Processes

• Need data at a range of scales
• hydraulic solute transport parameters
• fluid properties
• biogeochemical parameters
• fluxes, temperature, pressures, compositions,
  mineral concentrations
• fluid chemical sources and sinks

• Describe fundamental interactions among
  liquids-gases-solids
• Accurately represent processes across different
  spatial and time scales
• Describe flow transport in macroporous soils
  and unsaturated fractured media

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Our Vision A Four-Dimensional Description of
Relevant Vadose Zone Processes Parameters

• A multidisciplinary approach to data collection
  and monitoring will help
• create and test models
• confirm or alter theories
• develop and verify simulations of past events
• assess current conditions site performance
• support management decisions, regulatory
  rulemaking and future predictions

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Better Methods are Needed to Identify and Track
Contaminants

• Fully explore monitoring technologies that are
  non-invasive and can distinguish various types of
  waste.
• Develop verification techniques for identifying
  character changes in a contaminant source
• Determine sensitivity limits of a measured
  chemicals in varied concentrations.

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Advancements are Needed for Compliance Monitoring
of the Vadose Zone

• Review state-of-the-practice in monitoring
  network design.
• Develop an optimization methodology for
  subsurface characterization to save
• Design decision support system to aid
  environmental managers in determining site and
  monitoring priorities

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Software Priority A Vadose Zone Problem Solving
Environment (PSE)

• Would unify mathematical, scientific and
  engineering ideas in one framework
• Would allow for testing of more hypotheses and
  decision variables
• Would inspire greater confidence in decisions

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High Power Computing Capability Will Be Essential
for Vadose Zone Analyses

• Need priority access to state-of-the-art,
  massively parallel or distributed computers
• House machines at national lab(s) for ease of use
  by university/lab environmental scientist
• Dedicate a support staff to train assist
  scientists engineers in applications

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The Ultimate Challenge Reducing Uncertainty in
Models Decisions

• Models must be appropriate for the intended
  purpose -- not too complex or overly simplistic,
  and yet pertinent.
• Quantifying uncertainty relies on understanding
  the site character, its subsurface processes and
  the boundary effects beyond our control.
• Uncertainty -- always an issue in the complex
  vadose zone

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• U.S. General Accounting Office, Report on
  Hanford, 1998
• (GAO-RCED-98-80)
• Research Needs in Subsurface Science, U.S.
• Department of Energys Environmental Management
• Program, National Research Council, 2000
• Seeing Into the Earth, National Research Council,
  2000
• Long-Term Institutional Management of U.S.
  Department
• of Energy Legacy Waste Sites, National Research
• Council, 2000
• Vadose Zone Science and Technology Solutions,
• Battelle Press, 2000
• Conceptual Models of Flow and Transport in the
  Fractured
• Vadose Zone,National Research Council, 2001