Fluvial transport of mercury, organic carbon, suspended sediment, and selected major ions in contrasting stream basins in South Carolina and New York, October 2004 to September 2009

Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5173
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Abstract

A spatially extensive assessment of the environmental controls on mercury transport and bioaccumulation in stream ecosystems in New York and South Carolina was conducted as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program and included the determination of fluvial transport of mercury and associated constituents during water years 2005–2009. (A water year extends from October of one calendar year to September of the next calendar year.) In the Coastal Plain region of South Carolina, the study area included the Edisto River and its headwater tributary, McTier Creek. In the Adirondack region of New York, the study area included the upper Hudson River and its headwater tributary, Fishing Brook. Median concentrations of filtered total mercury rangedfrom 1.55 nanograms per liter (ng/L) at the Hudson River site to 2.77 ng/L at the Edisto River site. The Edisto River site had the greatest median filtered methylmercury concentration, at 0.32 ng/L, and the Hudson River site had the least median filtered methylmercury concentration, at 0.07 ng/L.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Fluvial transport of mercury, organic carbon, suspended sediment, and selected major ions in contrasting stream basins in South Carolina and New York, October 2004 to September 2009
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2012-5173
DOI 10.3133/sir20125173
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) South Atlantic Water Science Center
Description x, 125 p.; col. ill.; maps (col.); XLS Downloads of Appendices 1B, 1C, 2A-E, 3C, and 3D
First page i
Last page 125
Time Range Start 2004-10-01
Time Range End 2009-09-30
Country United States
State New York, South Carolina
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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