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: 1829
Evaluation of adsorbed arsenic and potential contribution to shallow groundwater in Tulare Lake bed area, Tulare Basin, California Evaluation of adsorbed arsenic and potential contribution to shallow groundwater in Tulare Lake bed area, Tulare Basin, California
Elevated As concentrations in shallow groundwater in parts of the Tulare Basin, California, are a concern because of potential migration into deeper aquifers that could serve as a source of future drinking water. The objectives of this study were to evaluate adsorbed As and the potential contribution to groundwater using (i) isotopic dilution, (ii) successive extraction with an...
Authors
S. Gao, R. Fujii, A.T. Chalmers, K.K. Tanji
Changes in snowmelt runoff timing in western North America under a 'business as usual' climate change scenario Changes in snowmelt runoff timing in western North America under a 'business as usual' climate change scenario
Spring snowmelt is the most important contribution of many rivers in western North America. If climate changes, this contribution may change. A shift in the timing of springtime snowmelt towards earlier in the year already is observed during 1948-2000 in many western rivers. Streamflow timing changes for the 1995-2099 period are projected using regression relations between observed...
Authors
I.T. Stewart, Daniel Cayan, Michael D. Dettinger
Inferring time‐varying recharge from inverse analysis of long‐term water levels Inferring time‐varying recharge from inverse analysis of long‐term water levels
Water levels in aquifers typically vary in response to time‐varying rates of recharge, suggesting the possibility of inferring time‐varying recharge rates on the basis of long‐term water level records. Presumably, in the southwestern United States (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, southern California, and southern Utah), rates of mountain front recharge to alluvial aquifers depend on...
Authors
Jesse E. Dickinson, R. T. Hanson, T.P.A. Ferre, S. A. Leake
Tidal oscillation of sediment between a river and a bay: A conceptual model Tidal oscillation of sediment between a river and a bay: A conceptual model
A conceptual model of fine sediment transport between a river and a bay is proposed, based on observations at two rivers feeding the same bay. The conceptual model consists of river, transitional, and bay regimes. Within the transitional regime, resuspension, advection, and deposition create a mass of sediment that oscillates landward and seaward. While suspended, this sediment mass...
Authors
N. K. Ganju, D. H. Schoellhamer, J.C. Warner, M.F. Barad, S.G. Schladow
A review of models and micrometeorological methods used to estimate wetland evapotranspiration A review of models and micrometeorological methods used to estimate wetland evapotranspiration
Within the past decade or so, the accuracy of evapotranspiration (ET) estimates has improved due to new and increasingly sophisticated methods. Yet despite a plethora of choices concerning methods, estimation of wetland ET remains insufficiently characterized due to the complexity of surface characteristics and the diversity of wetland types. In this review, we present models and
Authors
J.Z. Drexler, R.L. Snyder, D. Spano, U.K.T. Paw
Changes in streamflow timing in the western United States during recent decades Changes in streamflow timing in the western United States during recent decades
No abstract available.
Authors
Michael D. Dettinger
Chromium geochemistry of serpentinous sediment in the Willow core, Santa Clara County, California Chromium geochemistry of serpentinous sediment in the Willow core, Santa Clara County, California
A preliminary investigation of Cr geochemistry in serpentinous sediment completed for a multiple-aquifer ground-water monitoring well (Willow core of Santa Clara County, CA) determined sediment at depths >225 meters contains Cr concentrations ranging from 195 to 1155 mg/kg. Serpentinous sediment from this site is a potential source of non-anthropogenic Cr contamination. Chromium-bearing...
Authors
Christopher J. Oze, Matthew J. LaForce, Carl M. Wentworth, Randall T. Hanson, Dennis K. Bird, Robert G. Coleman
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, California Water Science Center
A micrometeorological investigation of a restored California wetland ecosystem A micrometeorological investigation of a restored California wetland ecosystem
No abstract available.
Authors
Frank Anderson, Richard L. Snyder, Robin L. Miller, Judith Z. Drexler
Channel response to tectonic forcing: field analysis of stream morphology and hydrology in the Mendocino triple junction region, northern California Channel response to tectonic forcing: field analysis of stream morphology and hydrology in the Mendocino triple junction region, northern California
An empirical calibration of the shear stress model for bedrock incision is presented, using field and hydrologic data from a series of small, coastal drainage basins near the Mendocino triple junction in northern California. Previous work comparing basins from the high uplift zone (HUZ, uplift rates around 4 mm/year) to ones in the low uplift zone (LUZ, ∼0.5 mm/year) indicates that the...
Authors
Noah P. Snyder, Kelin X. Whipple, Gregory E. Tucker, D.J. Merritts
Comparison of salinity and temperature at continuous monitoring stations and nearby monthly measurement sites in San Francisco Bay Comparison of salinity and temperature at continuous monitoring stations and nearby monthly measurement sites in San Francisco Bay
Salinity and temperature are crucial state variables affecting estuarine habitat an d, thus, are measured by various San Francisco Estuary programs. This article presents a comparison of salinity and temperature data collected at seven continuo us monitoring stations throughout San Francisco Bay (Figure 1) with data collected monthly by the US Geological Survey (USGS) research vessel (...
Authors
L.G. Bergfeld, D. H. Schoellhamer
Importance of a stochastic distribution of floods and erosion thresholds in the bedrock river incision problem Importance of a stochastic distribution of floods and erosion thresholds in the bedrock river incision problem
Fluvial erosion of bedrock occurs during occasional flood events when boundary shear stress exceeds a critical threshold to initiate incision. Therefore efforts to model the evolution of topography over long timescales should include an erosion threshold and should be driven by a stochastic distribution of erosive events. However, most bedrock incision models ignore the threshold as a...
Authors
Noah P. Snyder, Kelin X. Whipple, Gregory E. Tucker, D.J. Merritts
Preliminary assessment of DOC and THM precursor loads from a freshwater restored wetland, an agricultural field, and a tidal wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Preliminary assessment of DOC and THM precursor loads from a freshwater restored wetland, an agricultural field, and a tidal wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Water exported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta supplies drinking water to more than 22 million people in California. At certain times of the year, Delta waters contain relatively high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and bromide. During these times, chlorination of Delta water for drinking water disinfection will form disinfection byproducts, such as...
Authors
R. Fujii, B.A. Bergamaschi, N. K. Ganju, J.A. Fleck, K.R. Burow-Fogg, D. Schoellhamer, S. J. Deverel