Effects of Hanford Operations on Columbia River temperatures - Interim Report
- Resource Type
- Technical Report
- Authors
- Source
- Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
- Subject
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES COLUMBIA RIVER
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
HANFORD PRODUCTION REACTORS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION REACTORS
PRODUCTION REACTORS
REACTORS
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS 520400* -- Environment, Aquatic-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
- Language
- English
Columbia River temperatures downstream of the Hanford reactors have been measured and reported at various times since 1945. Comparisons of mean river temperatures at Priest Rapids with temperatures of the same water masses in the general vicinity of Ringold yielded estimates of the temperature increments from reactor heat input which were generally within 0.8 of the calculated values. Similar comparisons at downstream locations within the McNary Pool area yielded estimates as low as 0.2. Previous experience with river temperature profiles was confirmed by the absence of vertical temperature gradients and the persistence of higher temperatures on the plant side of the river as far as Richland. The Richland Ferry crossing was the only downstream location at which shoreline temperatures matched mean cross-section temperatures. Conclusions drawn from the data reported here should not be applied to other times of the year without further investigation.