Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
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Changes in the isotopic and chemical composition of ground water resulting from a recharge pulse from a sinking stream Changes in the isotopic and chemical composition of ground water resulting from a recharge pulse from a sinking stream
The Little River, an ephemeral stream that drains a watershed of approximately 88 km2 in northern Florida, disappears into a series of sinkholes along the Cody Scarp and flows directly into the carbonate Upper Floridan aquifer, the source of water supply in northern Florida. The changes in the geochemistry of ground water caused by a major recharge pulse from the sinking stream were...
Authors
B. G. Katz, J.S. Catches, T.D. Bullen, R. L. Michel
Results from the hydrodynamic element of the 1994 entrapment zone study in Suisun Bay Results from the hydrodynamic element of the 1994 entrapment zone study in Suisun Bay
The entrapment zo as long been considered an important region of the San Francisco estuary. It has been the subject of several previous studies, and its location has been suggested as an index of condition of the estuarine ecosystem.A close correlate of this location, X2 1, is now used as a management objective on the basis that X2 is correlated with the abundance or survival of several...
Authors
J.R. Burau, J. W. Gartner, M. Stacey
Preferential flow and transport of nitrate and bromide in claypan soil Preferential flow and transport of nitrate and bromide in claypan soil
The in situ measurement of water flow and chemical transport through clay pan soils is crucial to understanding potential water contamination from agricultural sources. It is important due to the large areal extent of these soils in agricultural regions of the midwestern United States and because of preferential flow paths caused by desiccation cracks, worms burrowing, and root...
Authors
B. P. Kelly, M.L. Pomes
Preliminary estimates of residence times and apparent ages of ground water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and water-quality data from a survey of springs Preliminary estimates of residence times and apparent ages of ground water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and water-quality data from a survey of springs
Knowledge of the residence times of the ground-water systems in Chesapeake Bay watershed helps resource managers anticipate potential delays between implementation of land-management practices and any improve-ments in river and estuary water quality. This report presents preliminary estimates of ground-water residence times and apparent ages of water in the shallow aquifers of the...
Authors
Michael J. Focazio, Niel Plummer, John K. Bohlke, Eurybiades Busenberg, L. Joseph Bachman, David S. Powars
Bacterial oxidation of dibromomethane and methyl bromide in natural waters and enrichment cultures Bacterial oxidation of dibromomethane and methyl bromide in natural waters and enrichment cultures
Bacterial oxidation of14CH2Br2 and14CH3Br was measured in freshwater, estuarine, seawater, and hypersaline-alkaline samples. In general, bacteria from the various sites oxidized similar amounts of14CH2Br2 and comparatively less 14CH3Br. Bacterial oxidation of14CH3Br was rapid in freshwater samples compared to bacterial oxidation of 14CH3Br in more saline waters. Freshwater was also the...
Authors
K.D. Goodwin, J.K. Schaefer, R.S. Oremland
Lithology and fracture characterization from drilling investigations in the Mirror Lake area, Grafton County, New Hampshire Lithology and fracture characterization from drilling investigations in the Mirror Lake area, Grafton County, New Hampshire
The lithology and fracture network of the bedrock aquifer in the Mirror Lake area were characterized from hydrogeologic data collected from 1979-95 in Grafton County, N.H. The collection of these data is an integral part of an ongoing multidisciplinary study by the U.S. Geological Survey to characterize groundwater flow and solute transport in fractured rock. The data provide a physical...
Authors
C. D. Johnson, A.H. Dunstan
Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms
Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential macronutrients necessary for the survival of virtually all living organisms. In groundwater systems, these nutrients can be quite scarce and can represent limiting elements for growth of subsurface microorganisms. In this study we examined silicate sources of these elements by characterizing the colonization and weathering of feldspars in situ using...
Authors
J.R. Rogers, P.C. Bennett, W.J. Choi
Models of metal binding structures in fulvic acid from the Suwannee River, Georgia Models of metal binding structures in fulvic acid from the Suwannee River, Georgia
Fulvic acid, isolated from the Suwannee River, Georgia, was assessed for its ability to bind Ca2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ ions at pH 6 before and after extensive fractionation that was designed to reveal the nature of metal binding functional groups. The binding constant for Ca2+ ion had the greatest increase of all the ions in a metal binding fraction that was selected for intensive
Authors
J.A. Leenheer, G.K. Brown, P. MacCarthy, S.E. Cabaniss
Methyl mercury dynamics in littoral sediments of a temperate seepage lake Methyl mercury dynamics in littoral sediments of a temperate seepage lake
The sites and rates of methyl mercury (MeHg) production and transport in littoral zone sediments were investigated at Pallette Lake in northern Wisconsin. In littoral areas where groundwater inflow occurs, sulfate supply from groundwater creates profiles of electron acceptors (sulfate) and donors (methane, sulfide) that are reversed from those found in sediments whose sulfate supply is...
Authors
D. P. Krabbenhoft, C.C. Gilmour, J.M. Benoit, Christopher L. Babiarz, A.W. Andren, J.P. Hurley
Modeling CO2 degassing and pH in a stream-aquifer system Modeling CO2 degassing and pH in a stream-aquifer system
Pinal Creek, Arizona receives an inflow of ground water with high dissolved inorganic carbon (57-75 mg/l) and low pH (5.8-6.3). There is an observed increase of in-stream pH from approximately 6.0-7.8 over the 3 km downstream of the point of groundwater inflow. We hypothesized that CO2 gas-exchange was the most important factor causing the pH increase in this stream-aquifer system. An...
Authors
J. Choi, S.M. Hulseapple, M.H. Conklin, J. W. Harvey
Difluoromethane, a new and improved inhibitor of methanotrophy Difluoromethane, a new and improved inhibitor of methanotrophy
Difluoromethane (HFC-32; DFM) is compared to acetylene and methyl fluoride as an inhibitor of methanotrophy in cultures and soils. DFM was found to be a reversible inhibitor of CH4 oxidation byMethylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Consumption of CH4 in soil was blocked by additions of low levels of DFM (0.03 kPa), and this inhibition was reversed by DFM removal. Although a small quantity of...
Authors
L.G. Miller, C. Sasson, R.S. Oremland
Changes in production and respiration during a spring phytoplankton bloom in San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Implications for net ecosystem metabolism Changes in production and respiration during a spring phytoplankton bloom in San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Implications for net ecosystem metabolism
We present results of an intensive sampling program designed to measure weekly changes in ecosystem respiration (oxygen consumption in the water column and sediments) around the 1996 spring bloom in South San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Measurements were made at a shallow site (2 m, where mean photic depth was 60% of the water column height) and a deep site (15 m, mean photic depth...
Authors
J.M. Caffrey, J. E. Cloern, C. Grenz