Atmospheric concentrations of elemental mercury (Hg0), reactive gaseous Hg (RGM), and particulate Hg (pHg) concentrations were measured in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), U.S.A. using high resolution, real time atmospheric mercury analyzers (Tekran 2537A, 1130, and 1135). A survey of Hg0 concentrations at various locations within YNP showed that concentrations generally reflect global background concentrations of 1.5–2.0 ng m− 3, but a few specific locations associated with concentrated geothermal activity showed distinctly elevated Hg0 concentrations (about 9.0 ng m− 3). At the site of intensive study located centrally in YNP (Canyon Village), Hg0 concentrations did not exceed 2.5 ng m− 3; concentrations of RGM were generally below detection limits of 0.88 pg m− 3 and never exceeded 5 pg m− 3. Concentrations of pHg ranged from below detection limits to close to 30 pg m−3. RGM and pHg concentrations were not correlated with any criteria gases (SO2, NOx, O3); however pHg was weakly correlated with the concentration of atmospheric particles. We investigated three likely sources of Hg at the intensive monitoring site: numerous geothermal features scattered throughout YNP, re-suspended soils, and wildfires near or in YNP. We examined relationships between the chemical properties of aerosols (as measured using real time, single particle mass spectrometry; aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer; ATOFMS) and concentrations of atmospheric pHg. Based on the presence of particles with distinct chemical signatures of the wildfires, and the absence of signatures associated with the other sources, we concluded that wildfires in the park were the main source of aerosols and associated pHg to our sampling site.
The ubiquitous presence of nonylphenolethoxylate/octylphenolethoxylate (NPE/OPE) compounds in aquatic environments adjacent to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) warrants an assessment of the endocrine disrupting potential of these complex mixtures on aquatic vertebrates. In this study, fathead minnow larvae were exposed for 64 days to a mixture of NPE/OPE, which closely models the NPE/OPE composition of a major metropolitan WWTP effluent. Target exposure concentrations included a total NPE/OPE mixture load of 200% of the WWTP effluent concentration (148 μg/L), 100% of the WWTP effluent concentration (74 μg/L) and 50% of the WWTP effluent concentration (38 μg/L). The NPE/OPE mixture contained 0.2% 4-t-octylphenol, 2.8% 4-nonylphenol, 5.1% 4-nonylphenolmonoethoxylate, 9.3% 4-nonylphenoldiethoxylate, 0.9% 4-t-octylphenolmonoethoxylate, 3.1% 4-t-octylphenoldiethoxylate, 33.8% 4-nonylphenolmonoethoxycarboxylate, and 44.8% 4-nonylphenoldiethoxycarboxylate. An additional exposure of 5 μg/L 4-nonylphenol (nominal) was conducted. The exposure utilized a flow-through system supplied by ground water and designed to deliver consistent concentrations of applied chemicals. Following exposure, larvae were raised to maturity. Upon sexual maturation, exposed male fish were allowed to compete with control males in a competitive spawning assay. Nest holding ability of control and exposed fish was carefully monitored for 7 days. All male fish were then sacrificed and analyzed for plasma vitellogenin, developmental changes in gonadal tissues, alterations in the development of secondary sexual characters, morphometric changes, and changes to reproductive behavior. When exposed to the 200% NPE/OPE treatment most larvae died within the first 4 weeks of exposure. Both the 100% and 50% NPE/OPE exposures caused a significant decrease in reproductive behavior, as indicated by an inability of many of the previously exposed males to acquire and hold a nest site required for reproduction. In contrast, the 5 μg/L 4-nonylphenol exposure resulted in significantly enhanced reproductive behavior compared to that of control males and a majority of the nesting sites were held by previously exposed males. No significant change in the development of gonadal tissues was observed. The 100% NPE/OPE exposure resulted in a significant reduction in the gonadal somatic index and in the prominence of secondary sexual characteristics of exposed larvae. This study indicates that NPE/OPE mixtures have an effect on the reproductive competence of previously exposed male fathead minnows. In addition, 4-nonylphenol concentrations utilized in all exposures were below regulatory guidelines, suggesting that evaluation of 4-nonylphenol alone may not be sufficient for identifying potentially adverse effects of this suite of compounds usually found as mixtures in the aquatic environment.
A radioisotope method was devised to study bacterial respiratory reduction of arsenate in sediments. The following two arsenic-rich soda lakes in California were chosen for comparison on the basis of their different salinities: Mono Lake (∼90 g/liter) and Searles Lake (∼340 g/liter). Profiles of arsenate reduction and sulfate reduction were constructed for both lakes. Reduction of [73As]arsenate occurred at all depth intervals in the cores from Mono Lake (rate constant [k] = 0.103 to 0.04 h−1) and Searles Lake (k = 0.012 to 0.002 h−1), and the highest activities occurred in the top sections of each core. In contrast, [35S]sulfate reduction was measurable in Mono Lake (k = 7.6 ×104 to 3.2 × 10−6 h−1) but not in Searles Lake. Sediment DNA was extracted, PCR amplified, and separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to obtain phylogenetic markers (i.e., 16S rRNA genes) and a partial functional gene for dissimilatory arsenate reduction (arrA). The amplified arrA gene product showed a similar trend in both lakes; the signal was strongest in surface sediments and decreased to undetectable levels deeper in the sediments. More arrA gene signal was observed in Mono Lake and was detectable at a greater depth, despite the higher arsenate reduction activity observed in Searles Lake. A partial sequence (about 900 bp) was obtained for a clone (SLAS-3) that matched the dominant DGGE band found in deeper parts of the Searles Lake sample (below 3 cm), and this clone was found to be closely related to SLAS-1, a novel extremophilic arsenate respirer previously cultivated from Searles Lake.
Tritium/helium-3 (3H/3He) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were investigated as environmental tracers in ground water from Jeju Island (Republic of Korea), a basaltic volcanic island. Ground-water mixing was evaluated by comparing 3H and CFC-12 concentrations with lumped-parameter dispersion models, which distinguished old water recharged before the 1950s with negligible 3H and CFC-12 from younger water. Low 3H levels in a considerable number of samples cannot be explained by the mixing models, and were interpreted as binary mixing of old and younger water; a process also identified in alkalinity and pH of ground water. The ground-water CFC-12 age is much older in water from wells completed in confined zones of the hydro-volcanic Seogwipo Formation in coastal areas than in water from the basaltic aquifer. Major cation concentrations are much higher in young water with high nitrate than those in uncontaminated old water. Chemical evolution of ground water resulting from silicate weathering in basaltic rocks reaches the zeolite–smectite phase boundary. The calcite saturation state of ground water increases with the CFC-12 apparent (piston flow) age. In agricultural areas, the temporal trend of nitrate concentration in ground water is consistent with the known history of chemical fertilizer use on the island, but increase of nitrate concentration in ground water is more abrupt after the late 1970s compared with the exponential growth of nitrogen inputs.
At the Naturita site in Colorado, USA, groundwaters were sampled and analyzed for chemical composition and by culture and culture-independent microbiological techniques. In addition, sediments were extracted with a dilute sodium carbonate solution to determine quantities of labile uranium within the sediments. Samples from the upgradient portion of the contaminated aquifer, where very little dissolved Fe(II) is found in the groundwater, have uranium content that is controlled by U(VI) adsorption and few metal-reducing bacteria are observed. In the extreme downgradient portion of the aquifer, where dissolved Fe(II) is observed, uranium content of the sediments includes significant quantities of reduced U(IV) and diverse populations of Fe(III)-reducing bacteria were present in the subsurface with the potential of reducing U(VI) to U(IV).
Aquifer-ocean interaction, saline intrusion, and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) are emerging topics in hydrology and oceanography with important implications for water-resource management and estuarine ecology. Although the threat of saltwater intrusion has long been recognized in coastal areas, SGD has, until recently, received much less attention. It is clear that SGD constitutes a major nutrient flux to coastal waters, with implications for estuarine ecology, eutrophication, and loss of coral reefs; however, fundamental questions regarding SGD remain unanswered: What are the spatial and temporal distributions of SGD offshore? How do seasonal and storm-related variations in aquifer recharge affect SGD flux and nutrient loading? What controls do aquifer structure and heterogeneity impose? How are SGD and saline recirculation related? Geophysical methods can provide insights to help answer these questions and improve the understanding of this intriguing and environmentally relevant hydrologic phenomenon.
","language":"English","publisher":"Society of Exploration Geophysicists","doi":"10.1190/1.2210056","issn":"1070485X","usgsCitation":"Day-Lewis, F., White, E., Johnson, C., Lane, J.W., and Belaval, M., 2006, Continuous resistivity profiling to delineate submarine groundwater discharge - Examples and limitations: Leading Edge (Tulsa, OK), v. 25, no. 6, p. 724-728, https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2210056.","productDescription":"5 p.","startPage":"724","endPage":"728","numberOfPages":"5","costCenters":[{"id":493,"text":"Office of Ground Water","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":239160,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"25","issue":"6","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"5059fa5fe4b0c8380cd4da94","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Day-Lewis, F. D. 0000-0003-3526-886X","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3526-886X","contributorId":35773,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Day-Lewis","given":"F. D.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":426282,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"White, E.A.","contributorId":53034,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"White","given":"E.A.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":426284,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Johnson, C. D.","contributorId":8120,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Johnson","given":"C. D.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":426280,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3},{"text":"Lane, J. W.","contributorId":31431,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Lane","given":"J.","email":"","middleInitial":"W.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":426281,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":4},{"text":"Belaval, M.","contributorId":45898,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Belaval","given":"M.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":426283,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":5}]}} ,{"id":70031078,"text":"70031078 - 2006 - Effect of reduced winter precipitation and increased temperature on watershed solute flux, 1988-2002, Northern Michigan","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2012-03-12T17:21:01","indexId":"70031078","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":1007,"text":"Biogeochemistry","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Effect of reduced winter precipitation and increased temperature on watershed solute flux, 1988-2002, Northern Michigan","docAbstract":"Since 1987 we have studied weekly change in winter (December-April) precipitation, snowpack, snowmelt, soil water, and stream water solute flux in a small (176-ha) Northern Michigan watershed vegetated by 65-85 year-old northern hardwoods. Our primary study objective was to quantify the effect of change in winter temperature and precipitation on watershed hydrology and solute flux. During the study winter runoff was correlated with precipitation, and forest soils beneath the snowpack remained unfrozen. Winter air temperature and soil temperature beneath the snowpack increased while precipitation and snowmelt declined. Atmospheric inputs declined for H+, NO 3- , NH 4+ , dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and SO 42- . Replicated plot-level results, which could not be directly extrapolated to the watershed scale, showed 90% of atmospheric DIN input was retained in surface shallow (<15 cm deep) soils while SO 42- flux increased 70% and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 30-fold. Most stream water base cation (C B), HCO 3- , and Cl- concentrations declined with increased stream water discharge, K+, NO 3- , and SO 42- remained unchanged, and DOC and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) increased. Winter stream water solute outputs declined or were unchanged with time except for NO 3- and DOC which increased. DOC and DIN outputs were correlated with the percentage of winter runoff and stream discharge that occurred when subsurface flow at the plot-level was shallow (<25 cm beneath Oi). Study results suggest that the percentage of annual runoff occurring as shallow lateral subsurface flow may be a major factor regulating solute outputs and concentrations in snowmelt-dominated ecosystems. ?? Springer 2006.","largerWorkType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"largerWorkTitle":"Biogeochemistry","largerWorkSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"language":"English","doi":"10.1007/s10533-005-1810-1","issn":"01682563","usgsCitation":"Stottlemyer, R., and Toczydlowski, D., 2006, Effect of reduced winter precipitation and increased temperature on watershed solute flux, 1988-2002, Northern Michigan: Biogeochemistry, v. 77, no. 3, p. 409-440, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-005-1810-1.","startPage":"409","endPage":"440","numberOfPages":"32","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":211622,"rank":9999,"type":{"id":10,"text":"Digital Object Identifier"},"url":"https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10533-005-1810-1"},{"id":238942,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"77","issue":"3","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"505a05fee4b0c8380cd5107c","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Stottlemyer, R.","contributorId":44493,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Stottlemyer","given":"R.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":429938,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Toczydlowski, D.","contributorId":9790,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Toczydlowski","given":"D.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":429937,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2}]}} ,{"id":70031081,"text":"70031081 - 2006 - Resolving structural influences on water-retention properties of alluvial deposits","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2018-10-26T08:45:29","indexId":"70031081","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":3674,"text":"Vadose Zone Journal","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Resolving structural influences on water-retention properties of alluvial deposits","docAbstract":"With the goal of improving property-transfer model (PTM) predictions of unsaturated hydraulic properties, we investigated the influence of sedimentary structure, defined as particle arrangement during deposition, on laboratory-measured water retention (water content vs. potential [θ(ψ)]) of 10 undisturbed core samples from alluvial deposits in the western Mojave Desert, California. The samples were classified as having fluvial or debris-flow structure based on observed stratification and measured spread of particle-size distribution. The θ(ψ) data were fit with the Rossi–Nimmo junction model, representing water retention with three parameters: the maximum water content (θmax), the ψ-scaling parameter (ψo), and the shape parameter (λ). We examined trends between these hydraulic parameters and bulk physical properties, both textural—geometric mean, M g, and geometric standard deviation, σg, of particle diameter—and structural—bulk density, ρb, the fraction of unfilled pore space at natural saturation, A e, and porosity-based randomness index, Φs, defined as the excess of total porosity over 0.3. Structural parameters Φs and A e were greater for fluvial samples, indicating greater structural pore space and a possibly broader pore-size distribution associated with a more systematic arrangement of particles. Multiple linear regression analysis and Mallow's C p statistic identified combinations of textural and structural parameters for the most useful predictive models: for θmax, including A e, Φs, and σg, and for both ψo and λ, including only textural parameters, although use of A e can somewhat improve ψo predictions. Textural properties can explain most of the sample-to-sample variation in θ(ψ) independent of deposit type, but inclusion of the simple structural indicators A e and Φs can improve PTM predictions, especially for the wettest part of the θ(ψ) curve.
","language":"English","publisher":"ACSESS","doi":"10.2136/vzj2005.0088","issn":"15391663","usgsCitation":"Winfield, K., Nimmo, J., Izbicki, J., and Martin, P.M., 2006, Resolving structural influences on water-retention properties of alluvial deposits: Vadose Zone Journal, v. 5, no. 2, p. 706-719, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2005.0088.","productDescription":"14 p.","startPage":"706","endPage":"719","costCenters":[{"id":154,"text":"California Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true},{"id":589,"text":"Toxic Substances Hydrology Program","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":211648,"rank":9999,"type":{"id":10,"text":"Digital Object Identifier"},"url":"https://dx.doi.org/10.2136/vzj2005.0088"},{"id":238975,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"5","issue":"2","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"505aa9dbe4b0c8380cd85ff1","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Winfield, K.A.","contributorId":85396,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Winfield","given":"K.A.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":429947,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Nimmo, J. R. 0000-0001-8191-1727","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8191-1727","contributorId":58304,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Nimmo","given":"J. R.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":429946,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Izbicki, J. A. 0000-0003-0816-4408","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0816-4408","contributorId":28244,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Izbicki","given":"J. A.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":429944,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3},{"text":"Martin, P. M.","contributorId":39003,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Martin","given":"P.","email":"","middleInitial":"M.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":429945,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":4}]}} ,{"id":70028839,"text":"70028839 - 2006 - Light-mediated Zn uptake in photosynthetic biofilm","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2018-10-26T08:28:34","indexId":"70028839","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":1919,"text":"Hydrobiologia","onlineIssn":"1573-5117","printIssn":"0018-8158","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Light-mediated Zn uptake in photosynthetic biofilm","docAbstract":"Our experiments conducted under controlled laboratory conditions demonstrate diel uptake and release of zinc (Zn) in lab-cultured biofilm exposed to Zn concentrations that are present in some mining-impacted streams (1–2 mg Zn/l). Specifically, at constant pH, temperature, and aqueous Zn concentrations in the exposure water, biofilm accumulated Zn during the light periods of the photocycle and released Zn during the dark periods of the photocycle. The range of Zn uptake measured in biofilm during one light period in these laboratory experiments (0.6–8.3 mg Zn/g dw biofilm) encompassed the estimated Zn uptake (1.5–3.7 mg Zn/g dw biofilm) necessary to attribute aqueous diel Zn cycling in a mining-impacted stream in Montana (High Ore Creek) to uptake in biofilm. This is relevant to in situ studies of diel Zn cycling because we controlled three important parameters that naturally fluctuate daily in the field, thus demonstrating the potential for biofilm to remove large percentages of Zn from some mining-impacted streams. Researchers, modelers, regulators, and reclamation teams working in metals-contaminated streams should be aware of diel metal cycling, because the highest Zn concentrations (and therefore, perhaps the most toxic conditions) in the water column might occur at night, and the greatest exposure of grazers of phototrophs to dietborne Zn might occur during daylight hours.
Overbank flooding is recognized by hydrologists as a key process that drives hydrogeomorphic and ecological dynamics in mountain valleys. Beaver create dams that some ecologists have assumed may also drive riparian hydrologic processes, but empirical evidence is lacking. We examined the influence of two in‐channel beaver dams and a 10 year flood event on surface inundation, groundwater levels, and flow patterns in a broad alluvial valley during the summers of 2002–2005. We studied a 1.5 km reach of the fourth‐order Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado, USA. The beaver dams and ponds greatly enhanced the depth, extent, and duration of inundation associated with floods; they also elevate the water table during both high and low flows. Unlike previous studies we found the main effects of beaver on hydrologic processes occurred downstream of the dam rather than being confined to the near‐pond area. Beaver dams on the Colorado River caused river water to move around them as surface runoff and groundwater seepage during both high‐ and low‐flow periods. The beaver dams attenuated the expected water table decline in the drier summer months for 9 and 12 ha of the 58 ha study area. Thus we provide empirical evidence that beaver can influence hydrologic processes during the peak flow and low‐flow periods on some streams, suggesting that beaver can create and maintain hydrologic regimes suitable for the formation and persistence of wetlands.
","language":"English","publisher":"American Geophysical Union","doi":"10.1029/2005WR004560","usgsCitation":"Westbrook, C.J., Cooper, D.J., and Baker, B.W., 2006, Beaver dams and overbank floods influence groundwater-surface water interactions of a Rocky Mountain riparian area: Water Resources Research, v. 42, no. 6, Article W06404; 12 p., https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004560.","productDescription":"Article W06404; 12 p.","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":477370,"rank":1,"type":{"id":40,"text":"Open Access Publisher Index Page"},"url":"https://doi.org/10.1029/2005wr004560","text":"Publisher Index Page"},{"id":239539,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"42","issue":"6","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationDate":"2006-06-08","publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"5059f037e4b0c8380cd4a663","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Westbrook, Cherie J.","contributorId":79705,"corporation":false,"usgs":false,"family":"Westbrook","given":"Cherie","email":"","middleInitial":"J.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":426211,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Cooper, David J.","contributorId":196510,"corporation":false,"usgs":false,"family":"Cooper","given":"David","email":"","middleInitial":"J.","affiliations":[{"id":13017,"text":"Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University","active":true,"usgs":false}],"preferred":false,"id":426212,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Baker, Bruce W. bakerb@usgs.gov","contributorId":95401,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Baker","given":"Bruce","email":"bakerb@usgs.gov","middleInitial":"W.","affiliations":[{"id":291,"text":"Fort Collins Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"preferred":false,"id":426210,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3}]}} ,{"id":70031090,"text":"70031090 - 2006 - Low-temperature MTBE biodegradation in aquifer sediments with a history of low, seasonal ground water temperatures","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2018-10-29T08:22:20","indexId":"70031090","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":1864,"text":"Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Low-temperature MTBE biodegradation in aquifer sediments with a history of low, seasonal ground water temperatures","docAbstract":"Sediments from two shallow, methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE)–contaminated aquifers, with mean ground water temperatures ∼10°C, demonstrated significant mineralization of [U‐14C] MTBE to 14CO2 at incubation temperatures as low as 4°C. These results indicate that microbial degradation can continue to contribute to the attenuation of MTBE in ground water under wintertime, low‐temperature conditions.
The large river swamps of Louisiana have complex topography and hydrology, characterized by black willow (Salix nigra) dominance on accreting alluvial sediments and vast areas of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) deepwater swamps with highly organic substrates. Seedling survival of these two wetland tree species is influenced by their growth rate in relation to the height and duration of annual flooding in riverine environments. This study examines the interactive effects of substrate, hydroperiod, and nutrients on growth rates of black willow and baldcypress seedlings. In a greenhouse experiment with a split-split-plot design, 1-year seedlings of black willow and baldcypress were subjected to two nutrient treatments (unfertilized versus fertilized), two hydroperiods (continuously flooded versus twice daily flooding/draining), and two substrates (sand versus commercial peat mix). Response variables included height, diameter, lateral branch count, biomass, and root:stem ratio. Black willow growth in height and diameter, as well as all biomass components, were significantly greater in peat substrate than in sand. Black willow showed a significant hydroperiod-nutrient interaction wherein fertilizer increased stem and root biomass under drained conditions, but flooded plants did not respond to fertilization. Baldcypress diameter and root biomass were higher in peat than in sand, and the same two variables increased with fertilization in flooded as well as drained treatments. These results can be used in Louisiana wetland forest models as inputs of seedling growth and survival, regeneration potential, and biomass accumulation rates of black willow and baldcypress.
","language":"English","publisher":"Elsevier","doi":"10.1016/j.envexpbot.2004.10.009","issn":"00988472","usgsCitation":"Day, R.H., Doyle, T., and Draugelis-Dale, R., 2006, Interactive effects of substrate, hydroperiod, and nutrients on seedling growth of Salix nigra and Taxodium distichum: Environmental and Experimental Botany, v. 55, no. 1-2, p. 163-174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2004.10.009.","productDescription":"12 p.","startPage":"163","endPage":"174","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":238614,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"55","issue":"1-2","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"505a3cdde4b0c8380cd630eb","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Day, Richard H. 0000-0002-5959-7054 dayr@usgs.gov","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5959-7054","contributorId":2427,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Day","given":"Richard","email":"dayr@usgs.gov","middleInitial":"H.","affiliations":[{"id":455,"text":"National Wetlands Research Center","active":true,"usgs":true},{"id":17705,"text":"Wetland and Aquatic Research Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"preferred":true,"id":429987,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Doyle, T.W. 0000-0001-5754-0671","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5754-0671","contributorId":16783,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Doyle","given":"T.W.","affiliations":[{"id":17705,"text":"Wetland and Aquatic Research Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"preferred":true,"id":429986,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Draugelis-Dale, R. O. 0000-0001-8532-3287","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8532-3287","contributorId":103076,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Draugelis-Dale","given":"R. O.","affiliations":[{"id":17705,"text":"Wetland and Aquatic Research Center","active":true,"usgs":true}],"preferred":false,"id":429988,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3}]}} ,{"id":70030223,"text":"70030223 - 2006 - Differentiation of commercial fuels based on polar components using negative electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2018-10-22T10:27:18","indexId":"70030223","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":1537,"text":"Environmental Forensics","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Differentiation of commercial fuels based on polar components using negative electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry","docAbstract":"Polar components in fuels may enable differentiation between fuel types or commercial fuel sources. A range of commercial fuels from numerous sources were analyzed by flow injection analysis/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry without extensive sample preparation, separation, or chromatography. This technique enabled screening for unique polar components at parts per million levels in commercial hydrocarbon products, including a range of products from a variety of commercial sources and locations. Because these polar compounds are unique in different fuels, their presence may provide source information on hydrocarbons released into the environment. This analysis was then applied to mixtures of various products, as might be found in accidental releases into the environment.
Geothermal features in the Yellowstone National Park contain up to several milligram per liter of aqueous arsenic. Part of this arsenic is volatilized and released into the atmosphere. Total volatile arsenic concentrations of 0.5–200 mg/m3 at the surface of the hot springs were found to exceed the previously assumed nanogram per cubic meter range of background concentrations by orders of magnitude. Speciation of the volatile arsenic was performed using solid-phase micro-extraction fibers with analysis by GC–MS. The arsenic species most frequently identified in the samples is (CH3)2AsCl, followed by (CH3)3As, (CH3)2AsSCH3, and CH3AsCl2 in decreasing order of frequency. This report contains the first documented occurrence of chloro- and thioarsines in a natural environment. Toxicity, mobility, and degradation products are unknown.
No abstract available.
","language":"English","publisher":"AGI","issn":"00168556","usgsCitation":"Landa, E.R., 2006, Oink if you love coal: Geotimes, v. 51, no. 4.","productDescription":"1 p.","startPage":"60","costCenters":[{"id":589,"text":"Toxic Substances Hydrology Program","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":238815,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"51","issue":"4","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"505a6d1ee4b0c8380cd74f96","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Landa, E. R.","contributorId":100002,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Landa","given":"E.","email":"","middleInitial":"R.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":430218,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1}]}} ,{"id":70028857,"text":"70028857 - 2006 - Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado front range","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2018-10-29T08:06:30","indexId":"70028857","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":1565,"text":"Environmental Science & Technology","onlineIssn":"1520-5851","printIssn":"0013-936X","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado front range","docAbstract":"The influence of hyporheic zone interactions on the redox state of fulvic acids and other redox active species was investigated in an alpine stream and adjacent wetland, which is a more reducing environment. A tracer injection experiment using bromide (Br-) was conducted in the stream system. Simulations with a transport model showed that rates of exchange between the stream and hyporheic zone were rapid (α ≈ 10-3 s-1). Parallel factor analysis of fluorescence spectra was used to quantify the redox state of dissolved fulvic acids. The rate coefficient for oxidation of reduced fulvic acids (λ = 6.5 × 10-3 s-1) in the stream indicates that electron-transfer reactions occur over short time scales. The rate coefficients for decay of ammonium (λ = 1.2 × 10-3 s-1) and production of nitrate (λ = −1.0 × 10-3 s-1) were opposite in sign but almost equal in magnitude. Our results suggest that fulvic acids are involved in rapid electron-transfer processes in and near the stream channel and may be important in determining ecological energy flow at the catchment scale.
Understanding the effects of climate change including precipitation patterns has important implications for evaluating the biogeochemical responses of watersheds. We focused on four storms in late summer and early fall that occurred after an exceptionally dry period in 2002. We analyzed not only the influence of these storms on episodic chemistry and the role of different water sources in affecting surface water chemistry, but also the relative contributions of these storms to annual biogeochemical mass balances. The study site was a well studied 135-ha watershed in the Adirondack Park of New York State (USA). Our analyses integrated measurements on hydrology, solute chemistry and the isotopic composition of NO 3 − (δ15N and δ18O) and SO 4 2− (δ34S and δ18O) to evaluate how these storms affected surface water chemistry. Precipitation amounts varied among the storms (Storm 1: Sept. 14–18, 18.5 mm; Storm 2: Sept. 21–24, 33 mm; Storm 3: Sept. 27–29, 42.9 mm; Storm 4: Oct. 16–21, 67.6 mm). Among the four storms, there was an increase in water yields from 2 to 14%. These water yields were much less than in studies of storms in previous years at this same watershed when antecedent moisture conditions were higher. In the current study, early storms resulted in relatively small changes in water chemistry. With progressive storms the changes in water chemistry became more marked with particularly major changes in Cb (sum of base cations), Si, NO 3 − , and SO 4 2− , DOC and pH. Analyses of the relationships between Si, DOC, discharge and water table height clearly indicated that there was a decrease in ground water contributions (i.e., lower Si concentrations and higher DOC concentrations) as the watershed wetness increased with storm succession. The marked changes in chemistry were also reflected in changes in the isotopic composition of SO 4 2− and NO 3 − . There was a strong inverse relationship between SO 4 2− concentrations and δ34S values suggesting the importance of S biogeochemical redox processes in contributing to SO 4 2− export. The isotopic composition of NO 3 − in stream water indicated that this N had been microbially processed. Linkages between SO 4 2− and DOC concentrations suggest that wetlands were major sources of these solutes to drainage waters while the chemical and isotopic response of NO 3 −suggested that upland sources were more important. Although these late summer and fall storms did not play a major role in the overall annual mass balances of solutes for this watershed, these events had distinctive chemistry including depressed pH and therefore have important consequences to watershed processes such as episodic acidification, and the linkage of these processes to climate change.
This study demonstrates the use of suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) data collected at Mallard Island as a means of determining suspended-sediment load entering San Francisco Bay from the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds. Optical backscatter (OBS) data were collected every 15 min during water years (WYs) 1995-2003 and converted to SSC. Daily fluvial advective sediment load was estimated by combining estimated Delta outflow with daily averaged SSC. On days when no data were available, SSC was estimated using linear interpolation. A model was developed to estimate the landward dispersive load using velocity and SSC data collected during WYs 1994 and 1996. The advective and dispersive loads were summed to estimate the total load. Annual suspended-sediment load at Mallard Island averaged 1.2??0.4 Mt (million metric tonnes). Given that the average water discharge for the 1995-2003 period was greater than the long -term average discharge, it seems likely that the average suspended-sediment load may be less than 1.2??0.4 Mt. Average landward dispersive load was 0.24 Mt/yr, 20% of the total. On average during the wet season, 88% of the annual suspended-sediment load was discharged through the Delta and 43% occurred during the wettest 30-day period. The January 1997 flood transported 1.2 Mt of suspended sediment or about 11% of the total 9-year load (10.9 Mt). Previous estimates of sediment load at Mallard Island are about a factor of 3 greater because they lacked data downstream from riverine gages and sediment load has decreased. Decreasing suspended-sediment loads may increase erosion in the Bay, help to cause remobilization of buried contaminants, and reduce the supply of sediment for restoration projects. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
","largerWorkType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"largerWorkTitle":"Journal of Hydrology","largerWorkSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"language":"English","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.09.006","issn":"00221694","usgsCitation":"McKee, L., Ganju, N., and Schoellhamer, D., 2006, Estimates of suspended sediment entering San Francisco Bay from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta, San Francisco Bay, California: Journal of Hydrology, v. 323, no. 1-4, p. 335-352, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.09.006.","startPage":"335","endPage":"352","numberOfPages":"18","onlineOnly":"N","additionalOnlineFiles":"N","costCenters":[{"id":154,"text":"California Water Science Center","active":true,"usgs":true},{"id":552,"text":"San Francisco Bay-Delta","active":false,"usgs":true},{"id":5079,"text":"Pacific Regional Director's Office","active":true,"usgs":true}],"links":[{"id":212044,"rank":9999,"type":{"id":10,"text":"Digital Object Identifier"},"url":"https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.09.006"},{"id":239452,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"323","issue":"1-4","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"505a0af1e4b0c8380cd524ca","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"McKee, L.J.","contributorId":84562,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"McKee","given":"L.J.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":427388,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Ganju, N. K. 0000-0002-1096-0465","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1096-0465","contributorId":64782,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Ganju","given":"N. K.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":427387,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Schoellhamer, D. H. 0000-0001-9488-7340","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9488-7340","contributorId":85624,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Schoellhamer","given":"D. H.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":427389,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3}]}} ,{"id":70031178,"text":"70031178 - 2006 - Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr tracers of weathering reactions and hydrologic pathways in a tropical granitoid system","interactions":[],"lastModifiedDate":"2012-03-12T17:21:18","indexId":"70031178","displayToPublicDate":"2006-01-01T00:00:00","publicationYear":"2006","noYear":false,"publicationType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"publicationSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"seriesTitle":{"id":2302,"text":"Journal of Geochemical Exploration","active":true,"publicationSubtype":{"id":10}},"title":"Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr tracers of weathering reactions and hydrologic pathways in a tropical granitoid system","docAbstract":"Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr data from primary and secondary minerals, soil waters, and stream waters in a tropical granitoid catchment quantitatively reflect mineral alteration reactions that occur at different levels within the bedrock-saprolite-soil zone. Near the bedrock-saprolite interface, plagioclase to kaolinite reaction yields low Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr. Higher in the regolith column, biotite weathering and kaolinite dissolution drive Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr to high values. Data from streams at base flow sample the bedrock-saprolite interface zone, while at high discharge solutes are derived from upper saprolite-soil zone. Coupled Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr can be effective tools for quantifying the importance of specific weathering reactions, and for geochemical hydrograph separation. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.","largerWorkType":{"id":2,"text":"Article"},"largerWorkTitle":"Journal of Geochemical Exploration","largerWorkSubtype":{"id":10,"text":"Journal Article"},"language":"English","doi":"10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.08.054","issn":"03756742","usgsCitation":"Derry, L., Pett-Ridge, J.C., Kurtz, A., and Troester, J., 2006, Ge/Si and 87Sr/86Sr tracers of weathering reactions and hydrologic pathways in a tropical granitoid system: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 88, no. 1-3 SPEC. ISS., p. 271-274, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.08.054.","startPage":"271","endPage":"274","numberOfPages":"4","costCenters":[],"links":[{"id":211463,"rank":9999,"type":{"id":10,"text":"Digital Object Identifier"},"url":"https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.08.054"},{"id":238756,"rank":0,"type":{"id":24,"text":"Thumbnail"},"url":"https://pubs.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg"}],"volume":"88","issue":"1-3 SPEC. ISS.","noUsgsAuthors":false,"publicationStatus":"PW","scienceBaseUri":"505a14f0e4b0c8380cd54c27","contributors":{"authors":[{"text":"Derry, L.A.","contributorId":47162,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Derry","given":"L.A.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":430379,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":1},{"text":"Pett-Ridge, J. C.","contributorId":18574,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Pett-Ridge","given":"J.","email":"","middleInitial":"C.","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":430378,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":2},{"text":"Kurtz, A.C.","contributorId":89341,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Kurtz","given":"A.C.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":430380,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":3},{"text":"Troester, J.W.","contributorId":90750,"corporation":false,"usgs":true,"family":"Troester","given":"J.W.","email":"","affiliations":[],"preferred":false,"id":430381,"contributorType":{"id":1,"text":"Authors"},"rank":4}]}} ]}