Ultraviolet absorbance as a proxy for total dissolved mercury in streams
J.A. Dittman, J. B. Shanley, C. T. Driscoll, G. R. Aiken, A.T. Chalmers, J.E. Towse
2009, Environmental Pollution (157) 1953-1956
Stream water samples were collected over a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions at three forested watersheds in the northeastern USA. Samples were analyzed for dissolved total mercury (THgd), DOC concentration and DOC composition, and UV254 absorbance across the three sites over different seasons and flow conditions. Pooling data from...
Predicting fractional bed load transport rates: Application of the Wilcock‐Crowe equations to a regulated gravel bed river
David Gaeuman, E.D. Andrews, Andreas Krause, Wes Smith
2009, Water Resources Research (45)
Bed load samples from four locations in the Trinity River of northern California are analyzed to evaluate the performance of the Wilcock‐Crowe bed load transport equations for predicting fractional bed load transport rates. Bed surface particles become smaller and the fraction of sand on the bed increases with distance downstream...
Respiratory arsenate reductase as a bidirectional enzyme
C. Richey, P. Chovanec, S.E. Hoeft, R.S. Oremland, P. Basu, J.F. Stolz
2009, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (382) 298-302
The haloalkaliphilic bacterium Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii is capable of anaerobic chemolithoautotrophic growth by coupling the oxidation of arsenite (As(III)) to the reduction of nitrate and carbon dioxide. Analysis of its complete genome indicates that it lacks a conventional arsenite oxidase (Aox), but instead possesses two operons that each encode a putative...
Late Pleistocene eolian features in southeastern Maryland and Chesapeake Bay region indicate strong WNW-NW winds accompanied growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet
H. W. Markewich, R. J. Litwin, M.J. Pavich, G.A. Brook
2009, Quaternary Research (71) 409-425
Inactive parabolic dunes are present in southeastern Maryland, USA, along the east bank of the Potomac River. More elongate and finer-grained eolian deposits and paha-like ridges characterize the Potomac River-Patuxent River upland and the west side of Chesapeake Bay. These ridges are streamlined erosional features, veneered with eolian sediment and...
Groundwater quality impacts from the land application of treated municipal wastewater in a large karstic spring basin: Chemical and microbiological indicators
B. G. Katz, Dale W. Griffin, J.H. Davis
2009, Science of the Total Environment (407) 2872-2886
Geochemical and microbiological techniques were used to assess water-quality impacts from the land application of treated municipal wastewater in the karstic Wakulla Springs basin in northern Florida. Nitrate-N concentrations have increased from about 0.2 to as high as 1.1??mg/L (milligrams per liter) during the past 30??years in Wakulla Springs, a...
Attempts to identify Clostridium botulinum toxin in milk from three experimentally intoxicated Holstein cows
R.B. Moeller Jr., B. Puschner, R.L. Walker, Tonie E. Rocke, S.R. Smith, J.S. Cullor, A.A. Ardans
2009, Journal of Dairy Science (92) 2529-2533
Three adult lactating Holstein cows were injected in the subcutaneous abdominal vein with 175 ng/kg of body weight of Clostridium botulinum type C toxin (451 cow median toxic doses) to determine if this botulinum toxin crosses the blood–milk barrier. Whole blood (in sodium heparin) and clotted blood serum samples were taken at 0 min,...
Earthquake stress drops and inferred fault strength on the Hayward Fault, east San Francisco Bay, California
J.L. Hardebeck, A. Aron
2009, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (99) 1801-1814
We study variations in earthquake stress drop with respect to depth, faulting regime, creeping versus locked fault behavior, and wall-rock geology. We use the P-wave displacement spectra from borehole seismic recordings of M 1.0-4.2 earthquakes in the east San Francisco Bay to estimate stress drop using a stack-and-invert empirical Green's...
Unconventional energy resources: 2007-2008 review
Peter D. Warwick, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Energy Minerals Division
2009, Natural Resources Research (18) 65-83
This paper summarizes five 2007–2008 resource commodity committee reports prepared by the Energy Minerals Division (EMD) of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Current United States and global research and development activities related to gas hydrates, gas shales, geothermal resources, oil sands, and uranium resources are included in this review....
Peptide synthesis in early earth hydrothermal systems
K.H. Lemke, R.J. Rosenbauer, D.K. Bird
2009, Astrobiology (9) 141-146
We report here results from experiments and thermodynamic calculations that demonstrate a rapid, temperature-enhanced synthesis of oligopeptides from the condensation of aqueous glycine. Experiments were conducted in custom-made hydrothermal reactors, and organic compounds were characterized with ultraviolet-visible procedures. A comparison of peptide yields at 260??C with those obtained at more...
Regression models for explaining and predicting concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in fish from streams in the United States
Lisa H. Nowell, Charles G. Crawford, Robert J. Gilliom, Naomi Nakagaki, Wesley W. Stone, Gail Thelin, David M. Wolock
2009, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (28) 1346-1358
Empirical regression models were developed for estimating concentrations of dieldrin, total chlordane, and total DDT in whole fish from U.S. streams. Models were based on pesticide concentrations measured in whole fish at 648 stream sites nationwide (1992-2001) as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program. Explanatory...
Validation of the rupture properties of the 2001 Kunlun, China (Ms = 8.1), earthquake from seismological and geological observations
Yi-Ying Wen, Ma Kuo-Fong, Teh-Ru Alex Song, Walter D. Mooney
2009, Geophysical Journal International (177) 555-570
We determine the finite-fault slip distribution of the 2001 Kunlun earthquake (Ms = 8.1) by inverting teleseismic waveforms, as constrained by geological and remote sensing field observations. The spatial slip distribution along the 400-km-long fault was divided into five segments in accordance with geological observations. Forward modelling of regional surface waves...
Seasonal movements and Home-range use by female pronghorns in sagebrush-steppe communities of western South Dakota
C.N. Jacques, J.A. Jenks, R. W. Klaver
2009, Journal of Mammalogy (90) 433-441
Knowledge of seasonal movements by pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) within the easternmost extension of sagebrush-steppe communities is limited. Current hypotheses regarding movement patterns suggest that pronghorns initiate seasonal movements in response to severe winter weather, snowfall patterns, spatial and temporal variation in forage abundance, and availability of water. From January 2002...
A prelanding assessment of the ice table depth and ground ice characteristics in Martian permafrost at the Phoenix landing site
Michael T. Mellon, William V. Boynton, William C. Feldman, Raymond E. Arvidson, Timothy N. Titus, Joshua L. Bandfield, Nathaniel E. Putzig, H.G. Sizemore
2009, Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets (114)
We review multiple estimates of the ice table depth at potential Phoenix landing sites and consider the possible state and distribution of subsurface ice. A two-layer model of ice-rich material overlain by ice-free material is consistent with both the observational and theoretical lines of evidence. Results indicate ground ice to...
The unexpected awakening of Chaitén Volcano, Chile
Simon A. Carn, John S. Zogorski, Luis Lara, John W. Ewert, Sebastian Watt, Alfred J. Prata, Ronald J. Thomas, Gustavo Villarosa
2009, Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union (90) 205-206
On 2 May 2008, a large eruption began unexpectedly at the inconspicuous Chaitén volcano in Chile's southern volcanic zone. Ash columns abruptly jetted from the volcano into the stratosphere, followed by lava dome effusion and continuous low-altitude ash plumes [Lara, 2009]. Apocalyptic photographs of eruption plumes suffused with...
Source analysis using regional empirical Green's functions: The 2008 Wells, Nevada, earthquake
C. Mendoza, S. Hartzell
2009, Geophysical Research Letters (36)
We invert three-component, regional broadband waveforms recorded for the 21 February 2008 Wells, Nevada, earthquake using a finite-fault methodology that prescribes subfault responses using eight MW∼4 aftershocks as empirical Green's functions (EGFs) distributed within a 20-km by 21.6-km fault area. The inversion identifies a seismic moment of 6.2 x 1024...
Pathogenicity of West Nile virus and response to vaccination in sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) using a killed vaccine
Glenn H. Olsen, Kimberli J.G. Miller, Douglas E. Docherty, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Louis Sileo
2009, Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (40) 263-271
West Nile virus was introduced into the United States in the vicinity of New York, New York, USA in 1999. The virus has since killed large numbers of birds nationwide, especially, but not limited to, crows (Corvus brachyrhinchos). One sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) at the Bridgeport Zoo (Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA)...
Stimulating a Great Lakes coastal wetland seed bank using portable cofferdams: implications for habitat rehabilitation
K.P. Kowalski, D.A. Wilcox, M.J. Wiley
2009, Journal of Great Lakes Research (35) 206-214
Coastal wetland seed banks exposed by low lake levels or through management actions fuel the reestablishment of emergent plant assemblages (i.e., wetland habitat) critical to Great Lakes aquatic biota. This project explored the effectiveness of using portable, water-filled cofferdams as a management tool to promote the natural growth of emergent...
Testing the importance of auditory detections in avian point counts
J.P. Brewster, T.R. Simons
2009, Journal of Field Ornithology (80) 178-182
Recent advances in the methods used to estimate detection probability during point counts suggest that the detection process is shaped by the types of cues available to observers. For example, models of the detection process based on distance-sampling or time-of-detection methods may yield different results for auditory versus visual cues...
VP Structure of Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA, imaged with local earthquake tomography
G.P. Waite, S.C. Moran
2009, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (182) 113-122
We present a new P-wave velocity model for Mount St. Helens using local earthquake data recorded by the Pacific Northwest Seismograph Stations and Cascades Volcano Observatory since the 18 May 1980 eruption. These data were augmented with records from a dense array of 19 temporary stations deployed during the second...
CHRONOS architecture: Experiences with an open-source services-oriented architecture for geoinformatics
D. Fils, C. Cervato, J. Reed, P. Diver, X. Tang, G. Bohling, D. Greer
2009, Computers & Geosciences (35) 774-782
CHRONOS's purpose is to transform Earth history research by seamlessly integrating stratigraphic databases and tools into a virtual on-line stratigraphic record. In this paper, we describe the various components of CHRONOS's distributed data system, including the encoding of semantic and descriptive data into a service-based architecture. We give examples of...
Evaluation of a moderate resolution, satellite-based impervious surface map using an independent, high-resolution validation data set
J. W. Jones, T. Jarnagin
2009, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering (14) 369-376
Given the relatively high cost of mapping impervious surfaces at regional scales, substantial effort is being expended in the development of moderate-resolution, satellite-based methods for estimating impervious surface area (ISA). To rigorously assess the accuracy of these data products high quality, independently derived validation data are needed. High-resolution data were...
Seasonal source-sink dynamics at the edge of a species' range
L.L. Kanda, T.K. Fuller, P.R. Sievert, R.L. Kellogg
2009, Ecology (90) 1574-1585
The roles of dispersal and population dynamics in determining species' range boundaries recently have received theoretical attention but little empirical work. Here we provide data on survival, reproduction, and movement for a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) population at a local distributional edge in central Massachusetts (USA). Most juvenile females that...
HRSC: High resolution stereo camera
G. Neukum, R. Jaumann, A.T. Basilevsky, A. Dumke, S. Van Gasselt, B. Giese, E. Hauber, J. W. Head III, C. Heipke, N. Hoekzema, H. Hoffmann, R. Greeley, K. Gwinner, R. Kirk, W. Markiewicz, T. B. McCord, G. Michael, Jan-Peter Muller, J.B. Murray, J. Oberst, P. Pinet, R. Pischel, T. Roatsch, F. Scholten, K. Willner
2009, Conference Paper, European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on Mars Express has delivered a wealth of image data, amounting to over 2.5 TB from the start of the mapping phase in January 2004 to September 2008. In that time, more than a third of Mars was covered at a resolution of 10-20...
Nonexplosive and explosive magma/wet-sediment interaction during emplacement of Eocene intrusions into Cretaceous to Eocene strata, Trans-Pecos igneous province, West Texas
K.S. Befus, R.E. Hanson, D. P. Miggins, J.A. Breyer, A.B. Busbey
2009, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (181) 155-172
Eocene intrusion of alkaline basaltic to trachyandesitic magmas into unlithified, Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) to Eocene fluvial strata in part of the Trans-Pecos igneous province in West Texas produced an array of features recording both nonexplosive and explosive magma/wet-sediment interaction. Intrusive complexes with 40Ar/39Ar dates of ~ 47-46??Ma consist of coherent...
Stream-network navigation in the U.S. Geological Survey stream stats web application
K. G. Ries, P. A. Steeves, J. D. Guthrie, A. H. Rea, D. W. Stewart
2009, Conference Paper, Proceedings of the international conference on advanced geographic information systems and web services, GEOWS 2009
StreamStats is a U.S. Geological Survey Web-based geographic information systems application developed as a tool for water-resources planning and management, engineering design, and other applications. The primary functionality of StreamStats allows users to obtain drainage-basin boundaries, basin characteristics, and streamflow statistics for gaged and ungaged sites. Recently, tools that allow...
