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Benjamin S. Linhoff, Ph.D.

Dr. Benjamin Linhoff is a research hydrologist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area, Earth System Process Division.

Dr. Linhoff specializes in using hydrogeochemistry, biogeochemistry, and isotope geochemistry to answer questions related to groundwater hydrology and the fate and transport of nutrients, metals, and emerging contaminants in surface water and groundwater. His current research is on selenium biogeochemistry in the Kootenai River watershed, tracing PFAS through arid environments, the effect of wildfires on water quality, and groundwater quantity trends in the United States.

Prior to the USGS, his graduate research focused on developing chemical tracers of Greenland Ice Sheet hydrology and the chemical evolution of hypersaline soda lakes in Mongolia. Between graduate degrees, he worked in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he operated several mass spectrometers and researched groundwater quality in northern New Mexico.

Professional Experience

  • 2023–present: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Mission Area, Earth System Process Division

  • 2021–2023: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • 2016–2021: Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • 2009–2010: Post Masters Graduate Research Assistant, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico

  • 2006: Fulbright Fellowship, Mongolia

Education and Certifications

  • PhD, Geochemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, 2016

  • MS, Hydrology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2009

  • BS, Geology, Boise State, 2005

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Geophysical Union: 2009–present

  • Geochemical Society: 2005–present

Science and Products

link
Sediment core collection, USGS, NMWSC

Nitrate Contamination in the Albuquerque Basin

Globally, nitrate is the most ubiquitous groundwater contaminate including within the Albuquerque Basin in New Mexico. Ingesting high concentrations of nitrate (> 10 mg/L as N) in drinking water can lead to an increased risk of cancer and in infants, methemoglobinemia. Historical groundwater sampling in Albuquerque and Kirtland Air Force Base have found high (> 10 mg/L as N) and sometime extreme (...
By
Kansas Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center
link

Nitrate Contamination in the Albuquerque Basin

Globally, nitrate is the most ubiquitous groundwater contaminate including within the Albuquerque Basin in New Mexico. Ingesting high concentrations of nitrate (> 10 mg/L as N) in drinking water can lead to an increased risk of cancer and in infants, methemoglobinemia. Historical groundwater sampling in Albuquerque and Kirtland Air Force Base have found high (> 10 mg/L as N) and sometime extreme (...
Learn More

Groundwater flow model investigation of the vulnerability of water resources at Chaco Culture National Historical Park related to unconventional oil and gas development

Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP), located in northwestern New Mexico, protects the greatest concentration of Chacoan historical sites in the American Southwest. Geologically, CCNHP is located within the San Juan structural basin, which consists in part of complex Cretaceous stratigraphy and hosts a variety of energy resources. As part of a larger study to investigate the vulnerabilit
Authors
Zachary M. Shephard, Andre B. Ritchie, Benjamin S. Linhoff, John Joseph Lunzer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

Water quality at Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the potential effects of hydrocarbon extraction

Study regionChaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP) is in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico, U.S.A. Its only water supply is in Gallup Sandstone aquifer, stratigraphically surrounded by layers long targeted for oil and natural gas extraction.Study focusTo assess groundwater flow direction, age, mixing between aquifers, and whether hydrocarbons extraction may affect water quality
Authors
Benjamin S. Linhoff, Kimberly R. Beisner, Andrew Hunt, Zachary M. Shephard
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center

Deciphering natural and anthropogenic nitrate and recharge sources in arid region groundwater

Recently, the subsoils of ephemeral stream (arroyos) floodplains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert were discovered to contain large naturally occurring NO3− reservoirs (floodplain: ~38,000 kg NO3-N/ha; background: ~60 kg NO3-N/ha). These reservoirs may be mobilized through land use change or natural stream channel migration which makes differentiating between anthropogenic and natural groundwater
Authors
Benjamin S. Linhoff
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

Utilizing multiple hydrogeologic and anthropogenic indicators to understand zones of groundwater contribution to water-supply wells near Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility in southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico

In 1999, a jet-fuels release was discovered at the Bulk Fuels Facility on Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Contaminants had reached the water table and migrated north-northeast toward water-supply wells. Monitoring wells were installed downgradient from the facility to determine the primary zones of groundwater production for water-supply wells and assess contaminant presence. The
Authors
Rebecca E. Travis, Meghan T. Bell, Benjamin S. Linhoff, Kimberly R. Beisner
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

Discovery of a large subsoil nitrate reservoir in an arroyo floodplain and associated aquifer contamination

In an area of elevated nitrate (NO3) groundwater concentrations in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in central New Mexico (United States), a large reservoir of nitrate was found in the subsoil of an arroyo floodplain. Nitrate inventories in the floodplain subsoils ranged from 10,000 to 38,000 kg NO3-N/ha—over twice as high as any previously measured arid region. The floodplain subsoil NO3 reservoir
Authors
Benjamin Shawn Linhoff, John Joseph Lunzer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Hawkings, J.R., Linhoff, B.S., Wadham, J.L., Stibal, M., Lamborg, C.H., Carling, G.T., Lamarche-gagnon, G., Kohler, T.J., Ward, R., Hendry, K.R., Falteisek, L., Kellerman, A.M., Cameron, K.A., Hatton, J.E., Tingey, S., Holt, A.D., Vinšová, P., 2021. Large subglacial source of mercury from the southwestern margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00753-w
Chandler, D.M., Wadham, J.L., Nienow, P.W., Doyle, S.H., Tedstone, A.J., Telling, J., Hawkings, J., Alcock, J.D., Linhoff, B., Hubbard, A., 2021. Rapid development and persistence of efficient subglacial drainage under 900 m-thick ice in Greenland. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 566, 116982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.116982
Linhoff, B., Charette, M., and Wadham, J., 2020, Rapid mineral surface weathering beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet shown by radium and uranium isotopes: Chemical Geology, v. 547, p. 119663, doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119663
Linhoff, B.S., Charette, M.A., Nienow, P.W., Wadham, J.L., Tedstone, A.J., and Cowton, T., 2017, Utility of222Rn as a passive tracer of subglacial distributed system drainage: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 462, p. 180–188, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2016.12.039.
Linhoff, B., Longmire, P., Rearick, M., McQuillan, D., and Perkins, G., 2016, Water quality and hydrogeochemistry of a basin and range watershed in a semi-arid region of northern New Mexico: Environmental Earth Sciences, v. 75, p. 640, doi:10.1007/s12665-015-5179-8.
Placzek, C.J., Heikoop, J.M., House, B., Linhoff, B.S., and Pelizza, M., 2016, Uranium isotope composition of waters from South Texas uranium ore deposits: Chemical Geology, v. 437, p. 44–55, doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.05.008.
Linhoff, B.S., Bennett, P.C., Puntsag, T., and Gerel, O., 2011, Geochemical evolution of uraniferous soda lakes in Eastern Mongolia: Environmental Earth Sciences, v. 62, p. 171–183, doi:10.1007/s12665-010-0512-8.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Albuquerque Region Nitrate Map Viewer

This interactive map summarizes historical groundwater sampling for nitrate in the Albuquerque Basin, potential sources of nitrate in groundwater, and other complementary data.

By
New Mexico Water Science Center

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Sediment core collection, USGS, NMWSC

    Nitrate Contamination in the Albuquerque Basin

    Globally, nitrate is the most ubiquitous groundwater contaminate including within the Albuquerque Basin in New Mexico. Ingesting high concentrations of nitrate (> 10 mg/L as N) in drinking water can lead to an increased risk of cancer and in infants, methemoglobinemia. Historical groundwater sampling in Albuquerque and Kirtland Air Force Base have found high (> 10 mg/L as N) and sometime extreme (...
    By
    Kansas Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center
    link

    Nitrate Contamination in the Albuquerque Basin

    Globally, nitrate is the most ubiquitous groundwater contaminate including within the Albuquerque Basin in New Mexico. Ingesting high concentrations of nitrate (> 10 mg/L as N) in drinking water can lead to an increased risk of cancer and in infants, methemoglobinemia. Historical groundwater sampling in Albuquerque and Kirtland Air Force Base have found high (> 10 mg/L as N) and sometime extreme (...
    Learn More
  • Publications

    Groundwater flow model investigation of the vulnerability of water resources at Chaco Culture National Historical Park related to unconventional oil and gas development

    Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP), located in northwestern New Mexico, protects the greatest concentration of Chacoan historical sites in the American Southwest. Geologically, CCNHP is located within the San Juan structural basin, which consists in part of complex Cretaceous stratigraphy and hosts a variety of energy resources. As part of a larger study to investigate the vulnerabilit
    Authors
    Zachary M. Shephard, Andre B. Ritchie, Benjamin S. Linhoff, John Joseph Lunzer
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

    Water quality at Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the potential effects of hydrocarbon extraction

    Study regionChaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP) is in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico, U.S.A. Its only water supply is in Gallup Sandstone aquifer, stratigraphically surrounded by layers long targeted for oil and natural gas extraction.Study focusTo assess groundwater flow direction, age, mixing between aquifers, and whether hydrocarbons extraction may affect water quality
    Authors
    Benjamin S. Linhoff, Kimberly R. Beisner, Andrew Hunt, Zachary M. Shephard
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center

    Deciphering natural and anthropogenic nitrate and recharge sources in arid region groundwater

    Recently, the subsoils of ephemeral stream (arroyos) floodplains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert were discovered to contain large naturally occurring NO3− reservoirs (floodplain: ~38,000 kg NO3-N/ha; background: ~60 kg NO3-N/ha). These reservoirs may be mobilized through land use change or natural stream channel migration which makes differentiating between anthropogenic and natural groundwater
    Authors
    Benjamin S. Linhoff
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

    Utilizing multiple hydrogeologic and anthropogenic indicators to understand zones of groundwater contribution to water-supply wells near Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility in southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico

    In 1999, a jet-fuels release was discovered at the Bulk Fuels Facility on Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Contaminants had reached the water table and migrated north-northeast toward water-supply wells. Monitoring wells were installed downgradient from the facility to determine the primary zones of groundwater production for water-supply wells and assess contaminant presence. The
    Authors
    Rebecca E. Travis, Meghan T. Bell, Benjamin S. Linhoff, Kimberly R. Beisner
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

    Discovery of a large subsoil nitrate reservoir in an arroyo floodplain and associated aquifer contamination

    In an area of elevated nitrate (NO3) groundwater concentrations in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in central New Mexico (United States), a large reservoir of nitrate was found in the subsoil of an arroyo floodplain. Nitrate inventories in the floodplain subsoils ranged from 10,000 to 38,000 kg NO3-N/ha—over twice as high as any previously measured arid region. The floodplain subsoil NO3 reservoir
    Authors
    Benjamin Shawn Linhoff, John Joseph Lunzer
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Hawkings, J.R., Linhoff, B.S., Wadham, J.L., Stibal, M., Lamborg, C.H., Carling, G.T., Lamarche-gagnon, G., Kohler, T.J., Ward, R., Hendry, K.R., Falteisek, L., Kellerman, A.M., Cameron, K.A., Hatton, J.E., Tingey, S., Holt, A.D., Vinšová, P., 2021. Large subglacial source of mercury from the southwestern margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00753-w
    Chandler, D.M., Wadham, J.L., Nienow, P.W., Doyle, S.H., Tedstone, A.J., Telling, J., Hawkings, J., Alcock, J.D., Linhoff, B., Hubbard, A., 2021. Rapid development and persistence of efficient subglacial drainage under 900 m-thick ice in Greenland. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 566, 116982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.116982
    Linhoff, B., Charette, M., and Wadham, J., 2020, Rapid mineral surface weathering beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet shown by radium and uranium isotopes: Chemical Geology, v. 547, p. 119663, doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119663
    Linhoff, B.S., Charette, M.A., Nienow, P.W., Wadham, J.L., Tedstone, A.J., and Cowton, T., 2017, Utility of222Rn as a passive tracer of subglacial distributed system drainage: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 462, p. 180–188, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2016.12.039.
    Linhoff, B., Longmire, P., Rearick, M., McQuillan, D., and Perkins, G., 2016, Water quality and hydrogeochemistry of a basin and range watershed in a semi-arid region of northern New Mexico: Environmental Earth Sciences, v. 75, p. 640, doi:10.1007/s12665-015-5179-8.
    Placzek, C.J., Heikoop, J.M., House, B., Linhoff, B.S., and Pelizza, M., 2016, Uranium isotope composition of waters from South Texas uranium ore deposits: Chemical Geology, v. 437, p. 44–55, doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.05.008.
    Linhoff, B.S., Bennett, P.C., Puntsag, T., and Gerel, O., 2011, Geochemical evolution of uraniferous soda lakes in Eastern Mongolia: Environmental Earth Sciences, v. 62, p. 171–183, doi:10.1007/s12665-010-0512-8.

    **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

  • Web Tools

    Albuquerque Region Nitrate Map Viewer

    This interactive map summarizes historical groundwater sampling for nitrate in the Albuquerque Basin, potential sources of nitrate in groundwater, and other complementary data.

    By
    New Mexico Water Science Center

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government