Author Description

Uranium mine tailings may have long-term environmental impacts because of their low radioactive decay rate, but little is known about the effect of such tailings on the arctic environment. This study began after a field reconnaissance in 1981. Two years of major field investigations, carried out in Central Keewatin, allowed equations and parameters to be determined for the model, which simulates the daily temperature and moisture profiles using inputs of air temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and lateral inflow to the tailings. If the tailings are flooded, the model will also simulate the ice cover and the effects of the floodwater upon the thermal regime of the tailings. The model also couples the water and energy fluxes. Detailed descriptions of different components of the model are given in the programmers' manual which also includes a program listing and a definition of the parameter values. The user's manual describes the data file, the interactive input session and provides sample outputs from the model.