Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 3785
Improved prediction of octanol-water partition coefficients from liquid-solute water solubilities and molar volumes Improved prediction of octanol-water partition coefficients from liquid-solute water solubilities and molar volumes
A volume-fraction-based solvent−water partition model for dilute solutes, in which the partition coefficient shows a dependence on solute molar volume ( ), is adapted to predict the octanol−water partition coefficient (Kow) from the liquid or supercooled-liquid solute water solubility (Sw), or vice versa. The established correlation is tested for a wide range of industrial compounds and...
Authors
C. T. Chiou, D.W. Schmedding, M. Manes
Modeling and measuring the nocturnal drainage flow in a high-elevation, subalpine forest with complex terrain Modeling and measuring the nocturnal drainage flow in a high-elevation, subalpine forest with complex terrain
The nocturnal drainage flow of air causes significant uncertainty in ecosystem CO2, H2O, and energy budgets determined with the eddy covariance measurement approach. In this study, we examined the magnitude, nature, and dynamics of the nocturnal drainage flow in a subalpine forest ecosystem with complex terrain. We used an experimental approach involving four towers, each with vertical...
Authors
C. Yi, Russell K. Monson, Z. Zhai, D.E. Anderson, B. Lamb, G. Allwine, A.A. Turnipseed, Sean P. Burns
Assessing the vulnerability of a municipal well field to contamination in a karst aquifer Assessing the vulnerability of a municipal well field to contamination in a karst aquifer
Proposed expansion of extractive lime-rock mines near the Miami-Dade County Northwest well field and Everglades wetland areas has garnered intense scrutiny by government, public, environmental stakeholders, and the media because of concern that mining will increase the risk of pathogen contamination. Rock mines are excavated to the same depth as the well field's primary producing zone...
Authors
R.A. Renken, K.J. Cunningham, M.R. Zygnerski, M.A. Wacker, A.M. Shapiro, R.W. Harvey, D.W. Metge, C.L. Osborn, J. N. Ryan
Steam injection pilot study in a contaminated fractured limestone (Maine, USA): Modeling and analysis of borehole radar reflection data Steam injection pilot study in a contaminated fractured limestone (Maine, USA): Modeling and analysis of borehole radar reflection data
Steam-enhanced remediation (SER) has been successfully used to remove DNAPL and LNAPL contaminants in porous media. Between August and November 2002, SER was tested in fractured limestone at the former Loring Air Force Base, in Maine, USA. During the SER investigation, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a series of borehole radar surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of radar methods...
Authors
C. Gregoire, J.W. Lane, P. K. Joesten
Effects of coal-bed methane discharge waters on the vegetation and soil ecosystem in Powder River Basin, Wyoming Effects of coal-bed methane discharge waters on the vegetation and soil ecosystem in Powder River Basin, Wyoming
Coal-bed methane (CBM) co-produced discharge waters in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, resulting from extraction of methane from coal seams, have become a priority for chemical, hydrological and biological research during the last few years. Soil and vegetation samples were taken from affected and reference sites (upland elevations and wetted gully) in Juniper Draw to investigate the...
Authors
M. Stearns, J.A. Tindall, G. Cronin, M.J. Friedel, E. Bergquist
Climate anomalies generate an exceptional dinoflagellate bloom in San Francisco Bay Climate anomalies generate an exceptional dinoflagellate bloom in San Francisco Bay
We describe a large dinoflagellate bloom, unprecedented in nearly three decades of observation, that developed in San Francisco Bay (SFB) during September 2004. SFB is highly enriched in nutrients but has low summer‐autumn algal biomass because wind stress and tidally induced bottom stress produce a well mixed and light‐limited pelagic habitat. The bloom coincided with calm winds and...
Authors
J. E. Cloern, T.S. Schraga, C.B. Lopez, N. Knowles, Labiosa R. Grover, R. Dugdale
Whither or wither geomicrobiology in the era of 'community metagenomics' Whither or wither geomicrobiology in the era of 'community metagenomics'
Molecular techniques are valuable tools that can improve our understanding of the structure of microbial communities. They provide the ability to probe for life in all niches of the biosphere, perhaps even supplanting the need to cultivate microorganisms or to conduct ecophysiological investigations. However, an overemphasis and strict dependence on such large information-driven...
Authors
R.S. Oremland, D.G. Capone, J.F. Stolz, J. Fuhrman
Effects of suburban development on runoff generation in the Croton River basin, New York, USA Effects of suburban development on runoff generation in the Croton River basin, New York, USA
The effects of impervious area, septic leach-field effluent, and a riparian wetland on runoff generation were studied in three small (0.38–0.56 km2) headwater catchments that represent a range of suburban development (high density residential, medium density residential, and undeveloped) within the Croton River basin, 70 km north of New York City. Precipitation, stream discharge, and...
Authors
Douglas A. Burns, T. Vitvar, J. McDonnell, J. Hassett, J. Duncan, Carol Kendall
Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality invistigation. 13. Mineral microscopy and chemistry of mined and unmined porphyry molybdenum mineralization along the Red River, New Mexico: Implications for ground- and surface-water quality Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality invistigation. 13. Mineral microscopy and chemistry of mined and unmined porphyry molybdenum mineralization along the Red River, New Mexico: Implications for ground- and surface-water quality
This report is one in a series presenting results of an interdisciplinary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study of ground-water quality in the lower Red River watershed prior to open-pit and underground molybdenite mining at Molycorp's Questa mine. The stretch of the Red River watershed that extends from just upstream of the town of Red River to just above the town of Questa includes...
Authors
Geoff Plumlee, Heather Lowers, Steve Ludington, Alan Koenig, Paul Briggs
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory
Comparison of Bacteroides-Prevotella 16S rRNA genetic markers for fecal samples from different animal species Comparison of Bacteroides-Prevotella 16S rRNA genetic markers for fecal samples from different animal species
To effectively manage surface and ground waters it is necessary to improve our ability to detect and identify sources of fecal contamination. We evaluated the use of the anaerobic bacterial group Bacteroides-Prevotella as a potential fecal indicator. Terminal restriction length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of the 16S rRNA genes from this group was used to determine differences in populations...
Authors
L.R. Fogarty, M.A. Voytek
Wave spectral energy variability in the northeast Pacific Wave spectral energy variability in the northeast Pacific
The dominant characteristics of wave energy variability in the eastern North Pacific are described from NOAA National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy data collected from 1981 to 2003. Ten buoys at distributed locations were selected for comparison based on record duration and data continuity. Long‐period (LP) [T > 12] s, intermediate‐period [6 ≤ T ≤ 12] s, and short‐period [T 6] s wave...
Authors
P.D. Bromirski, D.R. Cayan, R.E. Flick
Numerical simulation of double‐diffusive finger convection Numerical simulation of double‐diffusive finger convection
A hybrid finite element, integrated finite difference numerical model is developed for the simulation of double‐diffusive and multicomponent flow in two and three dimensions. The model is based on a multidimensional, density‐dependent, saturated‐unsaturated transport model (SUTRA), which uses one governing equation for fluid flow and another for solute transport. The solute‐transport...
Authors
Joseph D. Hughes, Ward E. Sanford, H. Leonard Vacher