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: 1839
Snow chemistry of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains Snow chemistry of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains
This investigation assesses geographic variations in atmospheric deposition in Washington, Oregon, and California using snow cores from the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains, collected from late February to mid-March 1983. A statistical analysis of the analytical and sampling precision was made. The snowpack in the higher Cascades and Sierra Nevada is not strongly influenced by...
Authors
L.B. Laird, Howard E. Taylor, V. C. Kennedy
Embryonic mortality and abnormalities of aquatic birds: Apparent impacts of selenium from irrigation drainwater Embryonic mortality and abnormalities of aquatic birds: Apparent impacts of selenium from irrigation drainwater
Severe reproductive impacts were found in aquatic birds nesting on irrigation drainwater ponds in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Of 347 nests studied to late incubation or to hatching, 40.6% had at least one dead embryo and 19.6% had at least one embryo or chick with an obvious external anomaly. The deformities were often multiple and included missing or abnormal eyes, beaks...
Authors
H. M. Ohlendorf, D. J. Hoffman, M. K. Saiki, Thomas W. Aldrich
Biomass and productivity of three phytoplankton size classes in San Francisco Bay Biomass and productivity of three phytoplankton size classes in San Francisco Bay
The 5-22 mu m size accounted for 40-50% of annual production in each embayment, but production by phytoplanton >22 mu m ranged from 26% in the S reach to 54% of total phytoplankton production in the landward embayment of the N reach. A productivity index is derived that predicts daily productivity for each size class as a function of ambient irradiance and integrated chlorophyll a in the...
Authors
B.E. Cole, J. E. Cloern, A.E. Alpine
The modification of an estuary The modification of an estuary
The San Francisco Bay estuary has been rapidly modified by human activity. Diking and filling of most of its wetlands have eliminated habitats for fish and waterfowl; the introduction of exotic species has transformed the composition of its aquatic communities; reduction of freshwater inflow by more than half has changed the dynamics of its plant and animal communities; and wastes have
Authors
F.H. Nichols, James E. Cloern, Samuel N. Luoma, D. H. Peterson
Ground water in the Long Meadow area and its relation with that in the General Sherman Tree area, Sequoia National Park, California Ground water in the Long Meadow area and its relation with that in the General Sherman Tree area, Sequoia National Park, California
Westward movement of ground water from the Long Meadow area of Sequoia National Park, California, to the General Sherman Tree area is prevented by an eastward hydraulic gradient and low fracture permeability of a granodiorite ridge separating the two areas. Clay beds present in the alluvium in the Long Meadow area would hinder, but not preclude, recharge to the ground-water system...
Authors
J. P. Akers
Isolation and detection of Giardia cysts from water using direct immunofluorescence Isolation and detection of Giardia cysts from water using direct immunofluorescence
A water‐sampling apparatus used for the isolation and detection of Giardiacysts in water has been designed and tested. The sampling apparatus uses one of a variety of pumps or waterline pressure to move water through a filter. Two of the optional pumps are lightweight enough to make the apparatus portable and thus suitable for sampling in remote areas. This technique of sample processing...
Authors
Stephen K. Sorenson, John L. Riggs, Peter D. Dileanis, Thomas J. Suk
Geohydrology and potential for artificial recharge in the western part of the U.S. Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California, 1982-83 Geohydrology and potential for artificial recharge in the western part of the U.S. Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California, 1982-83
A recent gravity survey indicates that sedimentary deposits in the Deadman Lake area of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base, California, are as much as 10,500 feet thick. These deposits fill an ancient valley in the bedrock complex. This valley is alined east-west in the Surprise Spring area and north-south in the Deadman Lake area. Water levels in the Ames Dry Lake area of the...
Authors
J. P. Akers
Population biology of bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, in lotic habitats on the irrigated San Joaquin Valley floor Population biology of bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, in lotic habitats on the irrigated San Joaquin Valley floor
Rapid expansion of irrigated agriculture in the western United States has prompted concerns for aquatic resources. Although the impacts of irrigation activities on quality and quantity of river water are well documented (e.g., high turbidity from soil erosion, eutrophication from nutrient runoff, pesticide contamination, reduced dis- charge), their effects on fish populations are still...
Authors
M. K. Saiki, C. J. Schmitt
The complex variable boundary element method: Applications The complex variable boundary element method: Applications
The complex variable boundary element method (CVBEM) is used to approximate several potential problems where analytical solutions are known: A modelling result produced from the CVBEM is a measure of relative error in matching the known boundary condition values of the problem. A CVBEM error-reduction algorithm is used to reduce the relative error of the approximation by adding nodal...
Authors
T. V. Hromadka, C.C. Yen, G. L. Guymon
Seasonal cycles of zooplankton from San Francisco Bay Seasonal cycles of zooplankton from San Francisco Bay
The two estuarine systems composing San Francisco Bay have distinct zooplankton communities and seasonal population dynamics. In the South Bay, a shallow lagoon-type estuary, the copepods Acartia spp. and Oithona davisae dominate. As in estuaries along the northeast coast of the U.S., there is a seasonal succession involving the replacement of a cold-season Acartia species (A. clausi s.l...
Authors
Julie W. Ambler, James E. Cloern, Anne Hutchinson
Environmental setting of San Francisco Bay Environmental setting of San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay, the largest bay on the California coast, is a broad, shallow, turbid estuary comprising two geographically and hydrologically distinct subestuaries: the northern reach lying between the connection to the Pacific Ocean at the Golden Gate and the confluence of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system, and the southern reach (herein called South Bay) between the Golden...
Authors
T. J. Conomos, R. E. Smith, J. W. Gartner
Algorithm to reduce approximation error from the complex-variable boundary-element method applied to soil freezing. Algorithm to reduce approximation error from the complex-variable boundary-element method applied to soil freezing.
An algorithm is presented for the numerical solution of the Laplace equation boundary-value problem, which is assumed to apply to soil freezing or thawing. The Laplace equation is numerically approximated by the complex-variable boundary-element method. The algorithm aids in reducing integrated relative error by providing a true measure of modeling error along the solution domain...
Authors
T. V. Hromadka, G. L. Guymon