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Publications

The following list of California Water Science Center publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists.

Filter Total Items: 1865

Hydrogeochemistry and stable isotopes of ground and surface waters from two adjacent closed basins, Atacama Desert, northern Chile Hydrogeochemistry and stable isotopes of ground and surface waters from two adjacent closed basins, Atacama Desert, northern Chile

The geochemistry and stable isotopes of groundwaters, surface waters, and precipitation indicate different sources of some dissolved constituents, but a common source of recharge and other constituents in two adjacent closed basins in the Atacama Desert region of northern Chile (24°15′–24°45′S). Waters from artesian wells, trenches, and ephemeral streams in the Punta Negra Basin are...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, Donald O. Whittemore

Remarkable invasion of San Francisco Bay (California, USA), by the Asian clam Potamocorbula amurensis. I. Introduction and dispersal Remarkable invasion of San Francisco Bay (California, USA), by the Asian clam Potamocorbula amurensis. I. Introduction and dispersal

The euryhaline bivalve mollusc Potamocorbula amurensis (family Corbulidae), a native of China, Japan, and Korea, has recently appeared and become very abundant in San Francisco Bay. This clam appears to have been introduced as veliger larvae in the seawater ballast of cargo vessels. It was first collected in northern San Francisco Bay in late 1986. P, amurensis then spread throughout the...
Authors
James T. Carlton, Janet K. Thompson, Laurence E. Schemel, Frederic H. Nichols

Stable isotopes of carbon dioxide in soil gas over massive sulfide mineralization at Crandon, Wisconsin Stable isotopes of carbon dioxide in soil gas over massive sulfide mineralization at Crandon, Wisconsin

Stable isotope ratios of oxygen and carbon were determined for CO2 in soil gas in the vicinity of the massive sulfide deposit at Crandon, Wisconsin with the objective of determining the source of anomalously high CO2 concentrations detected previously by McCarthy et al. (1986). Values of δ13C in soil gas CO2 from depths between 0.5 and 1.0 m were found to range from −12.68‰ to −20.03‰...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. L. Dettman, K.C. Lohmann, D. Brabec

Instantaneous and daily values of the surface energy balance over agricultural fields using remote sensing and a reference field in an arid environment Instantaneous and daily values of the surface energy balance over agricultural fields using remote sensing and a reference field in an arid environment

Remotely sensed surface temperature and reflectance in the visible and near infrared wavebands along with ancilliary meteorological data provide the capability of computing three of the four surface energy balance components (i.e., net radiation, soil heat flux, and sensible heat flux) at different spatial and temporal scales. As a result, under nonadvective conditions, this enables the...
Authors
William P. Kustas, M. S. Moran, R. D. Jackson, L. W. Gay, L.F.W. Duell, K. E. Kunkel, A.D. Matthias

Selenium speciation methods and application to soil saturation extracts from San Joaquin Valley, California Selenium speciation methods and application to soil saturation extracts from San Joaquin Valley, California

Methods to determine soluble concentrations of selenite, selenate, and organic Se were evaluated on saturation extracts of soil samples collected from three sites on the Panoche Creek alluvial fan in the western San Joaquin Valley, California. The methods were used in combination with hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry for detection of Se, and included a selective chemical...
Authors
John L. Fio, Roger Fujii

Environmental changes in the Tule Lake basin, Siskiyou and Modoc Counties, California, from 3 to 2 million years before present Environmental changes in the Tule Lake basin, Siskiyou and Modoc Counties, California, from 3 to 2 million years before present

Pollen and diatom analyses of a core from the town of Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California, for the period between 3 and 2 Ma reveal a paleoclimatic and paleolimnologic sequence recording a long, warm time interval that lasted from about 2.9 to 2.6 Ma and had a short, cooler interval within it. During this warm interval, the regional vegetation surrounding ancient Tule Lake was a mixed...
Authors
David P. Adam, J. Platt Bradbury, Hugh J. Rieck, Andrei M. Sarna-Wojcicki

Ground-water flow and solute movement to drain laterals, western San Joaquin Valley, California; I, Geochemical assessment Ground-water flow and solute movement to drain laterals, western San Joaquin Valley, California; I, Geochemical assessment

A study was undertaken to quantitatively evaluate the hydrologic processes affecting the chemical and isotopic composition of drain-lateral water in a drained agricultural field in the western San Joaquin Valley, California. The results of chemical and isotopic analysis of the samples and analysis of hydraulic-head data and drain-lateral flow data elucidate the process of mixing of deep...
Authors
S. J. Deverel, J.L. Fio

Spatial, seasonal and diel distribution of fishes in a California reservoir dominated by native fishes Spatial, seasonal and diel distribution of fishes in a California reservoir dominated by native fishes

During 21 months of sampling with various techniques, we captured 24 species of fish in Britton Reservoir. Nine species comprised over 96% of the number of fish captured and approximately 88% of the biomass. Five native non-game species accounted for over 77% of the catches. The native non-game fishes have maintained large populations in the reservoir despite continued introductions of...
Authors
Bruce C. Vondracek, Donald M. Baltz, Larry R. Brown, Peter B. Moyle

Spatial and temporal variability in South San Francisco Bay (USA). I. Horizontal distributions of salinity, suspended sediments, and phytoplankton biomass and productivity Spatial and temporal variability in South San Francisco Bay (USA). I. Horizontal distributions of salinity, suspended sediments, and phytoplankton biomass and productivity

The horizontal pattern of mesoscale (1–4 km) variability in salinity was a poor predictor of mesoscale patterns in chlorophyll a, suspended particulate matter, and daily primary productivity in the South San Francisco Bay estuary during spring 1987. The tidally-averaged salinity distribution varied over weekly time scales, reflecting inputs of freshwater as well as transport processes...
Authors
T.M. Powell, J. E. Cloern, L.M. Huzzey

Organic markers as source discriminants and sediment transport indicators in south San Francisco Bay, California Organic markers as source discriminants and sediment transport indicators in south San Francisco Bay, California

Sediment samples from nearshore sites in south San Francisco Bay and from streams flowing into that section of the Bay have been characterized in terms of their content of biogenic and anthropogenic molecular marker compounds. The distributions, input sources, and applicability of these compounds in determining sediment movement are discussed. By means of inspection and multivariate...
Authors
F. D. Hostettler, J. B. Rapp, K.A. Kvenvolden, N L. Samuel

Paleohydrologic evolution and geochemical dynamics of cumulative supergene metal enrichment at La Escondida, Atacama Desert, northern Chile Paleohydrologic evolution and geochemical dynamics of cumulative supergene metal enrichment at La Escondida, Atacama Desert, northern Chile

Quantitative limonite mapping within the leached capping of the porphyry copper deposit at La Escondida, Chile, permits reconstruction of the paleohydrologic and chemical evolution of a well-developed supergene ore-forming system. The mineralogy, textures, and relative abundance of supergene limonite minerals (hematite, goethite, and jarosite) are used to reconstruct the former ratio of...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, G.H. Brimhall
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