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Publications

Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 4093

Analysis and detection of the herbicides dimethenamid and flufenacet and their sulfonic and oxanilic acid degradates in natural water Analysis and detection of the herbicides dimethenamid and flufenacet and their sulfonic and oxanilic acid degradates in natural water

Dimethenamid [2-chloro-N-(2,4-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] and flufenacet [N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(1-methylethyl)-2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)oxy] were isolated by C-18 solid-phase extraction and separated from their ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA) degradates during their elution using ethyl acetate for the parent compound...
Authors
L.R. Zimmerman, R.J. Schneider, E.M. Thurman

Increased selenium threat as a result of invasion of the exotic bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis into the San Francisco Bay-Delta Increased selenium threat as a result of invasion of the exotic bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis into the San Francisco Bay-Delta

Following the aggressive invasion of the bivalve, Potamocorbula amurensis, in the San Francisco Bay-Delta in 1986, selenium contamination in the benthic food web increased. Concentrations in this dominant (exotic) bivalve in North Bay were three times higher in 1995–1997 than in earlier studies, and 1990 concentrations in benthic predators (sturgeon and diving ducks) were also higher...
Authors
R.G. Linville, S. N. Luoma, L. Cutter, G.A. Cutter

Influence of fracture anisotropy on ground water ages and chemistry, Valley and Ridge province, Pennsylvania Influence of fracture anisotropy on ground water ages and chemistry, Valley and Ridge province, Pennsylvania

Model ground water ages based on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and tritium/helium-3 (3H/3He) data were obtained from two arrays of nested piezometers located on the north limb of an anticline in fractured sedimentary rocks in the Valley and Ridge geologic province of Pennsylvania. The fracture geometry of the gently east plunging fold is very regular and consists predominately of south...
Authors
W.C. Burton, Niel Plummer, E. Busenberg, B.D. Lindsey, W.J. Gburek

Effects of tidal shallowing and deepening on phytoplankton production dynamics: A modeling study Effects of tidal shallowing and deepening on phytoplankton production dynamics: A modeling study

Processes influencing estuarine phytoplankton growth occur over a range of time scales, but many conceptual and numerical models of estuarine phytoplankton production dynamics neglect mechanisms occurring on the shorter (e.g., intratidal) time scales. We used a numerical model to explore the influence of short time-scale variability in phytoplankton sources and sinks on long-term growth...
Authors
L.V. Lucas, J. E. Cloern

Mercury on the move during snowmelt in Vermont Mercury on the move during snowmelt in Vermont

Although mercury (Hg) emissions peaked in the United States over the last 20 to 40 years and are now declining, they remain well above natural background levels in soils and sediments. Only a small fraction of the Hg deposited from the atmosphere to the terrestrial landscape runs off in streamflow. However, some of this Hg is methylated in the environment and can potentially...
Authors
James B. Shanley, P. F. Schuster, M.M. Reddy, D.A. Roth, Howard E. Taylor, G. Aiken

Annual primary production: Patterns and mechanisms of change in a nutrient-rich tidal ecosystem Annual primary production: Patterns and mechanisms of change in a nutrient-rich tidal ecosystem

Although nutrient supply often underlies long-term changes in aquatic primary production, other regulatory processes can be important. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a complex of tidal waterways forming the landward portion of the San Francisco Estuary, has ample nutrient supplies, enabling us to examine alternate regulatory mechanisms over a 21-yr period. Delta-wide primary...
Authors
Alan D. Jassby, James E. Cloern, B.E. Cole

Potential effects of global warming on the Sacramento/San Joaquin watershed and the San Francisco estuary Potential effects of global warming on the Sacramento/San Joaquin watershed and the San Francisco estuary

California's primary hydrologic system, the San Francisco estuary and its upstream watershed, is vulnerable to the regional hydrologic consequences of projected global climate change. Projected temperature anomalies from a global climate model are used to drive a combined model of watershed hydrology and estuarine dynamics. By 2090, a projected temperature increase of 2.1°C results in a...
Authors
Noah Knowles, Daniel R. Cayan

Nitrate stable isotopes: Tools for determining nitrate sources among different land uses in the Mississippi River Basin Nitrate stable isotopes: Tools for determining nitrate sources among different land uses in the Mississippi River Basin

A study was conducted to determine whether NO3– stable isotopes (δ15N and δ18O), at natural abundance levels, could discriminate among NO3– sources from sites with different land uses at the basin scale. Water samples were collected from 24 sites in the Mississippi River Basin from five land-use categories: (1) large river basins (>34 590 km2) draining multiple land uses and smaller...
Authors
Cecily C.Y. Chang, C. Kendall, S. R. Silva, W.A. Battaglin, K. Campbell

Energy budget above a high-elevation subalpine forest in complex topography Energy budget above a high-elevation subalpine forest in complex topography

Components of the energy budget were measured above a subalpine coniferous forest over two complete annual cycles. Sensible and latent heat fluxes were measured by eddy covariance. Bowen ratios ranged from 0.7 to 2.5 in the summer (June–September) depending upon the availability of soil water, but were considerably higher (∼3–6) during winter (December–March). Energy budget closure...
Authors
A.A. Turnipseed, P.D. Blanken, D.E. Anderson, Russell K. Monson

Choosing appropriate techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge Choosing appropriate techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge

Various techniques are available to quantify recharge; however, choosing appropriate techniques is often difficult. Important considerations in choosing a technique include space/time scales, range, and reliability of recharge estimates based on different techniques; other factors may limit the application of particular techniques. The goal of the recharge study is important because it...
Authors
Bridget R. Scanlon, Richard W. Healy, Peter G. Cook
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