Future climate at Yucca Mountain, Nevada proposed high-level radioactive waste repository

Physical and social science techniques were combined to quantitatively predict distance future climate using formal expert elicitation. Natural and human induced environmental changes for the next 10000 years at the site of the proposed high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada were analyzed.1 Experienced climatologists were formally elicited to detail anticipated changes in controls and consequent climate at Yucca Mountain. Future climate at Yucca Mountain was described as very stable, due to the dominant control of the rainshadow effect of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Anthropogenically caused warming (less than +3000 years) and astronomically induced cooling (more than +5000 years) will significantly influence the future climate. © 1995.

Duke Scholars

Author Robert T. Clemen Fuqua School of Business