Barbara A. Bekins, PhD
I study biodegradation of groundwater contaminants. Presently I serve as research coordinator of a team studying a 1979 crude oil spill at the USGS study site near Bemidji, Minnesota. Studies at the site include the fate and bioeffects of oxyhdrocarbons formed during natural attenuation, controls on degradation rates, and use of biogenic heat to estimate degradation
EDUCATION
University of California, Santa Cruz, Ph.D., 1993, Hydrogeology
San Jose State University, M.S., 1988, Mathematics
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1975, Mathematics
EXPERIENCE
1990-present: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
2006-2008 Instructor, Stanford University, Solute Transport in Groundwater
1988-1993: Researcher and Instructor, University of California, Santa Cruz.
1979-1987: Computer Specialist, U. S. Geological Survey, Seismology Branch.
Project chief, system administrator and UNIX consultant for computer facilities monitoring earthquakes in real time.
1977-1978: Research Assistant, Stanford University Geophysics Department.
1976-1977: Mathematics Lab Director, Canada Community College.
1975-1976: Scientific Programmer, SRI International.
HONORS
Member, National Academy of Engineering, 2020
AGU Fellow, 2019
GSA Fellow, 2005
GSA Hydrogeology Division Birdsall-Dreiss Lecturer, 2003-2004
U.S. Geological Survey Meritorious Service Award, 2004
JOI/USSAC Distinguished Lecturer, 2002-2003
ARCS Foundation Fellowship, 1989-1990
University of California Regents’ Fellowship, 1988-1989
B.A. Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
INTERNATIONAL OCEAN DISCOVERY PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
Exp. 366, Mariana Serpentine Mud Volcanoes, 12/2016-2/2017, Downhole Tools and Phys. Props.
Science Planning Committee, 2004-2007.
Leg 201, Peru Deep Biosphere, 1/2002-4/2002, Downhole Tools and Phys. Props.
U.S. Science Advisory Committee, 2000-2003.
Science Steering and Evaluation Panel, Earth's Environment, 1997-2000.
Leg 171A, Logging While Drilling, 12/1996-1/1997, Hydrologist.
Sedimentary and Geochemical Processes Panel, 1994-1996.
COMMITTEES
AGU Program Committee, 2013-2016
AGU Groundwater Technical Committee, Chair 2009-2010
National Research Council Panel on Intrinsic Remediation, 1997-2000.
JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARDS
Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation 2021-present.
Geofluids, 2007-2017.
Hydrogeology Journal, 1997-2000.
Ground Water, 1998-2003.
Geology, 1995-1998.
Science and Products
Crude oil at the Bemidji Site: 25 years of monitoring, modeling, and understanding
Long-term natural attenuation of crude oil in the subsurface
Reanalysis of in situ permeability measurements in the Barbados décollement
Methane oxidation in a crude oil contaminated aquifer: Delineation of aerobic reactions at the plume fringes
Permeability-porosity relationships of subduction zone sediments
Loss of volatile hydrocarbons from an LNAPL oil source
Sustainability of natural attenuation of nitrate in agricultural aquifers
Fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface near Cass Lake, Minnesota
Vadose zone attenuation of organic compounds at a crude oil spill site - Interactions between biogeochemical reactions and multicomponent gas transport
Milankovitch-scale correlations between deeply buried microbial populations and biogenic ooze lithology
In situ measurements of volatile aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in groundwater
Mixing effects on apparent reaction rates and isotope fractionation during denitrification in a heterogeneous aquifer
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 88
Crude oil at the Bemidji Site: 25 years of monitoring, modeling, and understanding
The fate of hydrocarbons in the subsurface near Bemidji, Minnesota, has been investigated by a multidisciplinary group of scientists for over a quarter century. Research at Bemidji has involved extensive investigations of multiphase flow and transport, volatilization, dissolution, geochemical interactions, microbial populations, and biodegradation with the goal of providing an improved understandiAuthorsHedeff I. Essaid, Barbara A. Bekins, William N. Herkelrath, Geoffrey N. DelinLong-term natural attenuation of crude oil in the subsurface
The time frame for natural attenuation of crude oil contamination in the subsurface has been studied for the last 27 years at a spill site located near Bemidji, Minnesota, USA. Data from thegroundwater contaminant plume show that dissolved benzene concentrations adjacent to the oil decreased by 50% between 1993 and 2007. To assess how this decrease is related to benzeneconcentrations in the crudeAuthorsBarbara A. Bekins, Mary Jo Baedecker, Robert P. Eganhouse, William N. HerkelrathReanalysis of in situ permeability measurements in the Barbados décollement
A cased and sealed borehole in the Northern Barbados accretionary complex was the site of the first attempts to measure permeability in situ along a plate boundary décollement. Three separate efforts at Hole 949C yielded permeability estimates for the décollement spanning four orders of magnitude. An analysis of problems encountered during installation of the casing and seals provides insights intAuthorsB.A. Bekins, D. Matmon, E.J. Screaton, K. M. BrownMethane oxidation in a crude oil contaminated aquifer: Delineation of aerobic reactions at the plume fringes
High resolution direct-push profiling over short vertical distances was used to investigate CH4 attenuation in a petroleum contaminated aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota. The contaminant plume was delineated using dissolved gases, redox sensitive components, major ions, carbon isotope ratios in CH4 and CO2, and the presence of methanotrophic bacteria. Sharp redox gradients were observed near the watAuthorsR.T. Amos, Barbara A. Bekins, Geoffrey N. Delin, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, D.W. Blowes, J. D. KirshteinPermeability-porosity relationships of subduction zone sediments
Permeability–porosity relationships for sediments from the northern Barbados, Costa Rica, Nankai, and Peru subduction zones were examined based on sediment type, grain size distribution, and general mechanical and chemical compaction history. Greater correlation was observed between permeability and porosity in siliciclastic sediments, diatom oozes, and nannofossil chalks than in nannofossil oozesAuthorsKusali Gamage, Elizabeth Screaton, Barbara A. Bekins, I. AielloLoss of volatile hydrocarbons from an LNAPL oil source
The light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) oil pool in an aquifer that resulted from a pipeline spill near Bemidji, Minnesota, was analyzed for volatile hydrocarbons (VHCs) to determine if the composition of the oil remains constant over time. Oil samples were obtained from wells at five locations in the oil pool in an anaerobic part of the glacial outwash aquifer. Samples covering a 21-year periodAuthorsMary Jo Baedecker, Robert P. Eganhouse, Barbara A. Bekins, Geoffrey N. DelinSustainability of natural attenuation of nitrate in agricultural aquifers
Increased concentrations of nitrate in groundwater in agricultural areas, coinciding with increased use of chemical and organic fertilizers, have raised concern because of risks to environmental and human health. At some sites, these problems are mitigated by natural attenuation of nitrate as a result of microbially mediated reactions. Results from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research under theAuthorsChristopher T. Green, Barbara A. BekinsFate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface near Cass Lake, Minnesota
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigated the natural attenuation of subsurface petroleum hydrocarbons leaked over an unknown number of years from an oil pipeline under the Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership South Cass Lake Pumping Station, in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Three weeks of field work conducted between May 2007 and July 2008 delineated a dissolved plume of aromatic hydrocarbons and chaAuthorsDina M. Drennan, Barbara A. Bekins, Ean Warren, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Mary Jo Baedecker, William N. Herkelrath, Geoffrey N. Delin, Robert J. Rosenbauer, Pamela L. CampbellVadose zone attenuation of organic compounds at a crude oil spill site - Interactions between biogeochemical reactions and multicomponent gas transport
Contaminant attenuation processes in the vadose zone of a crude oil spill site near Bemidji, MN have been simulated with a reactive transport model that includes multicomponent gas transport, solute transport, and the most relevant biogeochemical reactions. Dissolution and volatilization of oil components, their aerobic and anaerobic degradation coupled with sequential electron acceptor consumptioAuthorsS. Molins, K.U. Mayer, R.T. Amos, Barbara A. BekinsMilankovitch-scale correlations between deeply buried microbial populations and biogenic ooze lithology
The recent discoveries of large, active populations of microbes in the subseafloor of the world's oceans supports the impact of the deep biosphere biota on global biogeochemical cycles and raises important questions concerning the functioning of these extreme environments for life. These investigations demonstrated that subseafloor microbes are unevenly distributed and that cell abundances and metAuthorsI.W. Aiello, B.A. BekinsIn situ measurements of volatile aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in groundwater
Benzene and alkylbenzene biodegradation rates and patterns were measured using an in situ microcosm in a crude-oil contaminated aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota. Benzene-D6, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-, m- and p-xylenes and four pairs of C3- and C4-benzenes were added to an in situ microcosm and studied over a 3-year period. The microcosm allowed for a mass-balance approach and quantification of hydrAuthorsI.M. Cozzarelli, B.A. Bekins, R.P. Eganhouse, E. Warren, H.I. EssaidMixing effects on apparent reaction rates and isotope fractionation during denitrification in a heterogeneous aquifer
Gradients in contaminant concentrations and isotopic compositions commonly are used to derive reaction parameters for natural attenuation in aquifers. Differences between field‐scale (apparent) estimated reaction rates and isotopic fractionations and local‐scale (intrinsic) effects are poorly understood for complex natural systems. For a heterogeneous alluvial fan aquifer, numerical models and fieAuthorsChristopher T. Green, John K. Böhlke, Barbara A. Bekins, Steven P. Phillips