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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: 3785

Effects of climatic variations over 11 years on nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the Raccoon River, Iowa Effects of climatic variations over 11 years on nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the Raccoon River, Iowa

Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations at public water supply intakes on the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers in Iowa exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg L-1 for public water supplies established by the USEPA for extended periods of time from March through early August 1990. The excessive NO3-N levels followed 2 yr of less-than normal precipitation in 1988 and 1989. The...
Authors
K.J. Lucey, D. A. Goolsby

Coupled effects of vertical mixing and benthic grazing on phytoplankton populations in shallow, turbid estuaries Coupled effects of vertical mixing and benthic grazing on phytoplankton populations in shallow, turbid estuaries

Coastal ocean waters tend to have very different patterns of phytoplankton biomass variability from the open ocean, and the connections between physical variability and phytoplankton bloom dynamics are less well established for these shallow systems. Predictions of biological responses to physical variability in these environments is inherently difficult because the recurrent seasonal...
Authors
Jeffrey R. Koseff, Jacqueline K. Holen, Stephen G. Monismith, James E. Cloern

Ground-water-quality assessment of the Central Oklahoma Aquifer, Oklahoma: Geochemical and geohydrologic investigations Ground-water-quality assessment of the Central Oklahoma Aquifer, Oklahoma: Geochemical and geohydrologic investigations

The National Water-Quality Assessment pilot project for the Central Oklahoma aquifer examined the chemical and isotopic composition of ground water, the abundances and textures of minerals in core samples, and water levels and hydraulic properties in the flow system to identify geochemical reactions occurring in the aquifer and rates and directions of ground-water flow. The aquifer...
Authors
David L. Parkhurst, Scott C. Christenson, George N. Breit

The role of water exchange between a stream channel and its hyporheic zone in nitrogen cycling at the terrestrial-aquatic interface The role of water exchange between a stream channel and its hyporheic zone in nitrogen cycling at the terrestrial-aquatic interface

The subsurface riparian zone was examined as an ecotone with two interfaces. Inland is a terrestrial boundary, where transport of water and dissolved solutes is toward the channel and controlled by watershed hydrology. Streamside is an aquatic boundary, where exchange of surface water and dissolved solutes is bi-directional and flux is strongly influenced by channel hydraulics...
Authors
F.J. Triska, J.H. Duff, R.J. Avanzino

A finite-volume Eulerian-Lagrangian Localized Adjoint Method for solution of the advection-dispersion equation A finite-volume Eulerian-Lagrangian Localized Adjoint Method for solution of the advection-dispersion equation

A new mass-conservative method for solution of the one-dimensional advection-dispersion equation is derived and discussed. Test results demonstrate that the finite-volume Eulerian-Lagrangian localized adjoint method (FVELLAM) outperforms standard finite-difference methods, in terms of accuracy and efficiency, for solute transport problems that are dominated by advection. For dispersion...
Authors
R. W. Healy, T.F. Russell

Dissolved sulfides in the oxic water column of San Francisco Bay, California Dissolved sulfides in the oxic water column of San Francisco Bay, California

Trace contaminants enter major estuaries such as San Francisco Bay from a variety of point and nonpoint sources and may then be repartitioned between solid and aqueous phases or altered in chemical speciation. Chemical speciation affects the bioavailability of metals as well as organic ligands to planktonic and benthic organisms, and the partitioning of these solutes between phases. Our...
Authors
J.S. Kuwabara, G.W. Luther

Surface chemistry of ferrihydrite: Part 2. Kinetics of arsenate adsorption and coprecipitation Surface chemistry of ferrihydrite: Part 2. Kinetics of arsenate adsorption and coprecipitation

The kinetics of As(V) adsorption by ferrihydrite was investigated in coprecipitation and postsynthesis adsorption experiments conducted in the pH range 7.5-9.0. In coprecipitation experiments, As(V) was present in solution during the hydrolysis and precipitation of iron. In adsorption experiments, a period of rapid (
Authors
C. C. Fuller, J.A. Dadis, G.A. Waychunas

Diazinon concentrations in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and San Francisco Bay, California, February 1993 Diazinon concentrations in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and San Francisco Bay, California, February 1993

The distribution and possible biological effects of a dormant spray pesticide, diazinon, were examined by measuring pesticide concentrations and estimating toxicity using bioassays at a series of sites in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. Pulses of diazinon were observed in early February 1993 in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers after heavy rains, with elevated
Authors
Kathryn Kuivila

Dissolved nutrient and suspended particulate matter data for the San Francisco Bay estuary, California, October 1988 through September 1991 Dissolved nutrient and suspended particulate matter data for the San Francisco Bay estuary, California, October 1988 through September 1991

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted hydrologic investigations in San Francisco Bay during Water Years 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991. Dissolved inorganic plant nutrients, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, silica, and reactive phosphorus were measured in surface and in near-bottom waters at previously established locations in both northern and southern reaches of the bay. Salinity, turbidity, and
Authors
Stephen W. Hager

Computation of type curves for flow to partially penetrating wells in water-table aquifers Computation of type curves for flow to partially penetrating wells in water-table aquifers

Evaluation of Neuman's analytical solution for flow to a well in a homogeneous, anisotropic, water-table aquifer commonly requires large amounts of computation time and can produce inaccurate results for selected combinations of parameters. Large computation times occur because the integrand of a semi-infinite integral involves the summation of an infinite series. Each term of the series...
Authors
Allen F. Moench
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