Abstract
This chapter discusses the disturbance of the natural temperatures in the rock. The temperature on the earth's surface at a depth of only a few feet is approximately equal to the average annual temperature for the regional climate. The temperature in the earth's crust increases naturally with increasing depth below the surface. This increase is known as the geothermal gradient, and this varies from locality to locality throughout the world. The heat from the radioactive waste causes an increase in the temperature of the rock in the repository. This increase can be controlled by changing the spacing between emplaced waste canisters or by the ventilation of the disposal rooms for some years after emplacement. The thermal power—or heat generation rate—of the waste decreases with time. Thus, the waste canisters can be cooled in water pools on the surface for some years prior to disposal.
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