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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

Retention and transport of nutrients in a third-order stream in northwestern California; hyporheic processes Retention and transport of nutrients in a third-order stream in northwestern California; hyporheic processes

Chloride and nitrate were coinjected into the surface waters of a third—order stream for 20 d to examine solute retention, and the fate of nitrate during subsurface transport. A series of wells (shallow pits) 0.5—10 m from the adjacent channel were sampled to estimate the lateral interflow of water. Two subsurface return flows beneath the wetted channel were also examined. The...
Authors
F.J. Triska, V. C. Kennedy, R.J. Avanzino, G. W. Zellweger, K.E. Bencala

Relation of salinity and selenium in shallow groundwater to hydrologic and geochemical processes, Western San Joaquin Valley, California Relation of salinity and selenium in shallow groundwater to hydrologic and geochemical processes, Western San Joaquin Valley, California

Salinity and selenium concentrations in shallow groundwater of the western San Joaquin Valley, California, are related to the geomorphology and hydrology of the alluvial fans. The highest salinity and selenium concentrations in shallow groundwater occur in alluvium deposited by ephemeral streams and at the margins of the major alluvial fans, where there were naturally saline, fine...
Authors
S. J. Deverel, S.K. Gallanthine

Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California

Because of the common occurrence of 15 to 25 mole percent hydronium substitution on the alkali site in jarosites, it is necessary to consider the hydronium content of jarosites in any attempt at rigorous evaluation of jarosite solubility or of the saturation state of natural waters with respect to jarosite. A Gibbs free energy of 3293.5±2.1 kJ mol-1 is recommended for a jarosite solid...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J.W. Ball

Retention and transport of nutrients in a third-order stream: Channel processes Retention and transport of nutrients in a third-order stream: Channel processes

Chloride was injected as a conservative tracer with nitrate to examine nitrate retention (storage plus biotic uptake) and transport in a 327—m reach of a third—order stream draining a forested basin in northwestern California. Prior to injections, diel patterns of nutrient concentrations were measured under background conditions. Nitrate concentration of stream water increased downstream
Authors
Frank J. Triska, Vance C. Kennedy, Ronald J. Avanzino, Gary W. Zellweger, Kenneth E. Bencala

Organic geochemistry and brine composition in Great Salt, Mono, and Walker Lakes Organic geochemistry and brine composition in Great Salt, Mono, and Walker Lakes

Samples of Recent sediments, representing up to 1000 years of accumulation, were collected from three closed basin lakes (Mono Lake, CA, Walker Lake, NV, and Great Salt Lake, UT) to assess the effects of brine composition on the accumulation of total organic carbon, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon, humic acid structure and diagenesis, and trace metal complexation. The Great...
Authors
Joseph L. Domagalski, W. H. Orem, H.P. Eugster

Spatial and temporal variability in South San Francisco Bay (USA). II. Temporal changes in salinity, suspended sediments, and phytoplankton biomass and productivity over tidal time scales Spatial and temporal variability in South San Francisco Bay (USA). II. Temporal changes in salinity, suspended sediments, and phytoplankton biomass and productivity over tidal time scales

Short-term variability of a conservative quantity (salinity) and two nonconservative quantities (chlorophyll a, suspended particulate matter) was measured across a sampling grid in the South San Francisco Bay estuary. Surface measurements were made every 2 h at each of 29 (or 38) sites, on four different dates representing a range of tidal current regimes over the neap-spring cycle. From...
Authors
J. E. Cloern, T.M. Powell, L.M. Huzzey

Trace metal associations in the water column of South San Francisco Bay, California Trace metal associations in the water column of South San Francisco Bay, California

Spatial distributions of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) were followed along a longitudinal gradient of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in South San Francisco Bay (herein referred to as the South Bay). Dissolved Cu, Zn and Cd concentrations ranged from 24 to 66 nM, from 20 to 107 nM and from 1·2 to 4·7 nM, respectively, in samples collected on five dates beginning with the spring
Authors
J.S. Kuwabara, Cecily C.Y. Chang, J. E. Cloern, T. L. Fries, J.A. Davis, S. N. Luoma

Nonparametric statistical methods for comparing two sites based on data with multiple nondetect limits Nonparametric statistical methods for comparing two sites based on data with multiple nondetect limits

As concern over the effects of trace amounts of pollutants has increased, so has the need for statistical methods that deal appropriately with data that include values reported as “less than” the detection limit. It has become increasingly common for water quality data to include censored values that reflect more than one detection limit for a single analyte. For such multiply censored...
Authors
Steven P. Millard, Steven J. Deverel

Trace element residues in bluegills and common carp from the lower San Joaquin River, California, and its tributaries Trace element residues in bluegills and common carp from the lower San Joaquin River, California, and its tributaries

Whole-body samples of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the San Joaquin River and two tributaries (Merced River and Salt Slough) were analyzed to determine if the concentrations of any of nine elements were elevated as a result of exposure of the fish to agricultural subsurface (tile) drainage water. Highest concentrations (μg/g dry weight) detected...
Authors
Michael K. Saiki, Thomas W. May

Effects of spatial orientation of multiple plate artificial substrates on invertebrate colonization Effects of spatial orientation of multiple plate artificial substrates on invertebrate colonization

Jumbo multiple plate samplers were suspended in a river at 0.3 and 1 m depth in one of three orientations: interplate spaces closed to downwelling light and open to flow, open to light and flow, or open to light and closed to flow. Mean numbers of colonizing taxa and individuals were not significantly different among orientations after eight weeks of submergence. All variables tested...
Authors
K. V. Slack, R. F. Ferreira, R.C. Averert, S.S. Kennelly

Osmotic potential and projected drought tolerance of four phreatophytic shrub species in Owens Valley, California Osmotic potential and projected drought tolerance of four phreatophytic shrub species in Owens Valley, California

A large part of the water used by plant communities growing on the floor of Owens Valley, California, is derived from a shallow unconfined aquifer. Fluctuations in the water table caused by groundwater withdrawal may result in periods when this water supply is not accessible to plants. The capacity of the plants to adapt to these periods of water loss depend on the availability of water...
Authors
Peter D. Dileanis, D.P. Groeneveld

Phytoplankton growth rates in a light-limited environment, San Francisco Bay Phytoplankton growth rates in a light-limited environment, San Francisco Bay

Phytoplankton cells reside in a turbulent medium partitioned into an upper photic zone that sustains photosynthesis, and a lower aphotic zone that does not. In estuaries, vertical mixing rates between these 2 zones can be rapid ( 1 generation time) because of tidal stirring and because the mixing depth is generally shallow. Moreover, the photic depth is characteristically shallow in...
Authors
Andrea E. Alpine, James E. Cloern
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