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Publications

This list of Water Resources Mission Area publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists. A searchable database of all USGS publications can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.

Filter Total Items: 19035

Strong climate and tectonic control on plagioclase weathering in granitic terrain Strong climate and tectonic control on plagioclase weathering in granitic terrain

Investigations to understand linkages among climate, erosion and weathering are central to quantifying landscape evolution. We approach these linkages through synthesis of regolith data for granitic terrain compiled with respect to climate, geochemistry, and denudation rates for low sloping upland profiles. Focusing on Na as a proxy for plagioclase weathering, we quantified regolith Na...
Authors
C. Rasmussen, S. Brantley, D.D.B. Richter, Alex E. Blum, J. Dixon, Arthur F. White

Precision of two methods for estimating age from burbot otoliths Precision of two methods for estimating age from burbot otoliths

Lower reproductive success and older age structure are associated with many burbot (Lota lota L.) populations that are declining or of conservation concern. Therefore, reliable methods for estimating the age of burbot are critical for effective assessment and management. In Lake Erie, burbot populations have declined in recent years due to the combined effects of an aging population (...
Authors
W.H. Edwards, M.A. Stapanian, A.T. Stoneman

Seasonal dripwater Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca variations driven by cave ventilation: Implications for and modeling of speleothem paleoclimate records Seasonal dripwater Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca variations driven by cave ventilation: Implications for and modeling of speleothem paleoclimate records

A 4-year study in a central Texas cave quantifies multiple mechanisms that control dripwater composition and how these mechanisms vary at different drip sites. We monitored cave-air compositions, in situ calcite growth, dripwater composition and drip rate every 4–6 weeks. Three groups of drip sites are delineated (Groups 1–3) based on geochemical variations in dripwater composition...
Authors
C.I. Wong, J.L. Banner, MaryLynn Musgrove

A framework for sea level rise vulnerability assessment for southwest U.S. military installations A framework for sea level rise vulnerability assessment for southwest U.S. military installations

We describe an analysis framework to determine military installation vulnerabilities under increases in local mean sea level as projected over the next century. The effort is in response to an increasing recognition of potential climate change ramifications for national security and recommendations that DoD conduct assessments of the impact on U.S. military installations of climate...
Authors
B. Chadwick, Reinhard Flick, J. Helly, Tracy Nishikawa, Fang Wang Pei, W. O'Reilly, R. Guza, Peter Bromirski, A. Young, W. Crampton, B. Wild, I. Canner

Transient changes in shallow groundwater chemistry during the MSU ZERT CO2 injection experiment Transient changes in shallow groundwater chemistry during the MSU ZERT CO2 injection experiment

Food-grade CO2 was injected into a shallow aquifer through a perforated pipe placed horizontally 1–2 m below the water table at the Montana State University Zero Emission Research and Technology (MSU-ZERT) field site at Bozeman, Montana. The possible impact of elevated CO2 levels on groundwater quality was investigated by analyzing 80 water samples taken before, during, and following CO2...
Authors
J. A. Apps, Lingyun Zheng, N. Spycher, J.T. Birkholzer, Yousif K. Kharaka, James J. Thordsen, Evangelos Kakouros, R. Trautz

Factors affecting stream nutrient loads: A synthesis of regional SPARROW model results for the continental United States Factors affecting stream nutrient loads: A synthesis of regional SPARROW model results for the continental United States

We compared the results of 12 recently calibrated regional SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) models covering most of the continental United States to evaluate the consistency and regional differences in factors affecting stream nutrient loads. The models – 6 for total nitrogen and 6 for total phosphorus – all provide similar levels of prediction accuracy...
Authors
Stephen D. Preston, Richard B. Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, Charles G. Crawford

Surface-water nutrient conditions and sources in the United States Pacific Northwest Surface-water nutrient conditions and sources in the United States Pacific Northwest

The SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model was used to perform an assessment of surface-water nutrient conditions and to identify important nutrient sources in watersheds of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States (U.S.) for the year 2002. Our models included variables representing nutrient sources as well as landscape characteristics that...
Authors
D.R. Wise, H.M. Johnson

Removal of inorganic mercury and methylmercury from surface waters following coagulation of dissolved organic matter with metal-based salts Removal of inorganic mercury and methylmercury from surface waters following coagulation of dissolved organic matter with metal-based salts

The presence of inorganic mercury (IHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in surface waters is a health concern worldwide. This study assessed the removal potential use of metal-based coagulants as a means to remove both dissolved IHg and MeHg from natural waters and provides information regarding the importance of Hg associations with the dissolved organic matter (DOM) fraction and metal...
Authors
Y.K. Henneberry, T.E.C. Kraus, J.A. Fleck, David P. Krabbenhoft, P.M. Bachand, W.R. Horwath

Comparison of atmospheric mercury speciation and deposition at nine sites across central and eastern North America Comparison of atmospheric mercury speciation and deposition at nine sites across central and eastern North America

This study presents >5 cumulative years of tropospheric mercury (Hg) speciation measurements, over the period of 2003–2009, for eight sites in the central and eastern United States and one site in coastal Puerto Rico. The purpose of this research was to identify local and regional processes that impact Hg speciation and deposition (wet + dry) across a large swath of North America. Sites...
Authors
Mark A. Engle, Michael T. Tate, David P. Krabbenhoft, James J Schauer, Allan Kolker, James B. Shanley, Michael Bothner

Increasing precision of turbidity-based suspended sediment concentration and load estimates Increasing precision of turbidity-based suspended sediment concentration and load estimates

Turbidity is an effective tool for estimating and monitoring suspended sediments in aquatic systems. Turbidity can be measured in situ remotely and at fine temporal scales as a surrogate for suspended sediment concentration (SSC), providing opportunity for a more complete record of SSC than is possible with physical sampling approaches. However, there is variability in turbidity-based...
Authors
John D. Jastram, Carl E. Zipper, Lucian W. Zelanzny, Kenneth Hyer
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