R-10-37
                                                                                                                                                Components, processes and 
                                                                                                                                                interactions in the biosphere
                                                                                                                                                Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB
                                                                                                                                                December 2010
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Swedish Nuclear Fuel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              and Waste Management Co
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Box 250, SE-101 24 Stockholm 
                                                                                                                              1                                                                                               Phone +46 8 459 84 00
                                                                                                                              AB, Bromma, 201
                                                                                                                              CM Gruppen 
                                                    ISSN 1402-3091 
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                                                    SKB R-10-37
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                Components, processes and 
                interactions in the biosphere
                Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB
                December 2010
                A pdf version of this document can be downloaded from www.skb.se.
                          Contents
                          1 Introduction 5
                          1.1 Background                                                                               5
                          2      This report 9
                          2.1 Objectives                                                                               9
                          2.2    SR-Site safety assessment                                                             9
                          2.3    Overview of contents                                                                10
                          3      Concept of an interaction matrix and methodology 13
                          4      Biosphere IM 17
                          5      Diagonal elements 21
                          5.1 Geosphere                                                                              21
                          5.2 Regolith                                                                               21
                          5.3    Primary producers                                                                   22
                          5.4 Decomposers                                                                            22
                          5.5    Filter feeders                                                                      22
                          5.6 Herbivores                                                                             22
                          5.7 Carnivores                                                                             22
                          5.8     Humans                                                                             22
                          5.9    Water in regolith                                                                   23
                          5.10  Surface water                                                                        23
                          5.11  Water composition                                                                    23
                          5.12  Gas and local atmosphere                                                             23
                          5.13 Temperature                                                                           23
                          5.14 Radionuclides                                                                         23
                          5.15  External conditions                                                                  24
                          6      Processes in the Biosphere 25
                          6.1    Biological processes                                                                28
                                 6.1.1 Bioturbation                                                                  28
                                 6.1.2 Consumption                                                                   28
                                 6.1.3 Decomposition                                                                 28
                                 6.1.4 Death                                                                         28
                                 6.1.5 Excretion                                                                     28
                                 6.1.6    Food supply                                                                29
                                 6.1.7     Growth                                                                    29
                                 6.1.8    Habitat supply                                                             29
                                 6.1.9 Intrusion                                                                     29
                                 6.1.10  Material supply                                                             29
                                 6.1.11 Movement                                                                     29
                                 6.1.12  Particle release/trapping                                                   29
                                 6.1.13  Primary production                                                          30
                                 6.1.14 Stimulation/inhibition                                                       30
                                 6.1.15 Uptake                                                                       30
                          6.2    Processes related to human behavior                                                 30
                                 6.2.1    Anthropogenic release                                                      31
                                 6.2.2    Material use                                                               31
                                 6.2.3    Species introduction/extermination                                         31
                                 6.2.4    Water use                                                                  31
                          6.3    Chemical, mechanical, and physical processes                                        31
                                 6.3.1    Change of pressure                                                         32
                                 6.3.2 Consolidation                                                                 32
                                 6.3.3    Element supply                                                             32
                                 6.3.4 Loading                                                                       32
                                 6.3.5    Phase transitions                                                          32
                          R-10-37 3
                          6.3.6    Physical properties change                                                 33
                          6.3.7 Reactions                                                                     33
                          6.3.8 Sorption/desorption                                                           33
                          6.3.9    Water supply                                                               33
                          6.3.10 Weathering                                                                   33
                          6.3.11  Wind stress                                                                 34
                   6.4    Transport processes                                                                 34
                          6.4.1 Acceleration                                                                  34
                          6.4.2 Convection                                                                    34
                          6.4.3 Covering                                                                      34
                          6.4.4 Deposition                                                                    34
                          6.4.5 Export                                                                        35
                          6.4.6 Import                                                                        35
                          6.4.7     Interception                                                              35
                          6.4.8 Relocation                                                                    35
                          6.4.9 Resuspension                                                                  35
                          6.4.10 Saturation                                                                   36
                   6.5    Thermal and radiological processes                                                  36
                          6.5.1 Decay                                                                         36
                          6.5.2 Exposure                                                                      36
                          6.5.3    Heat storage                                                               36
                          6.5.4    Light-related processes                                                    36
                          6.5.5 Radiolysis                                                                    37
                          6.5.6    Radionuclide release                                                       37
                          6.5.7 Irradiation                                                                   37
                   6.6    Landscape development processes                                                     37
                          6.6.1    Change in rock surface location                                            37
                          6.6.2     Sea level change                                                          37
                          6.6.3 Terrestrialisation                                                            38
                          6.6.4 Thresholding                                                                  38
                   References 39
                   Appendix A                                                                                 45
                   4                                                                                                   R-10-37