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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

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.

Science and Products

  • Publications

    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.

  • Science
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*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