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Blaine McCleskey is a Research Chemist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Blaine McCleskey started his career with the U.S. Geological Survey in 1997 as a chemist in the National Research Program. In 2010, he obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado where he developed a method to calculate the electrical conductivity of natural waters from its chemical composition. He is currently involved in several research projects in Yellowstone National Park, a wildfire affected watershed, and acid mine drainage sites.
Education
B.S. - Biochemistry, College of Charleston, SC, 1995
M.S. - Environmental Studies (Science track), University of Charleston, SC, 1997
Ph.D. - Environmental Engineering (Hydrologic Sciences Program), University of Colorado, 2010
Blaine McCleskey also runs and maintains the USGS Redox Chemistry Laboratory, where analytical methods for determining the redox distributions of iron, arsenic, chromium, and antimony have been developed (see puplished methods below). In addition, the lab supports many USGS projects by providing iron, arsenic, chromium, antimony, and selenium redox determinations. The lab is equipped with an ICP-AES, IC, GFAAS, HGAAS, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, and an autotitrator and we are capable of determining most inorganic constituents and specialize in difficult matrices (acid mine waters, geothermal waters, and saline waters).
Hydrograph showing discharge in cubic feet per second for Corwin Springs streamgage site on the Yellowstone River, MT, spanning 1889-2023. The spike in 2022 is from the June floods of that year.
Hydrograph showing discharge in cubic feet per second for Corwin Springs streamgage site on the Yellowstone River, MT, spanning 1889-2023. The spike in 2022 is from the June floods of that year.
Plot of specific conductance, discharge, and temperature measured at the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, Montana, during early-mid 2023. The anomalous spikes in temperature and specific conductance on May 23, 2023, are thought to be when a large sand and bar was deposited at the site. May 23 is also the peak flow in 2023.
Plot of specific conductance, discharge, and temperature measured at the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, Montana, during early-mid 2023. The anomalous spikes in temperature and specific conductance on May 23, 2023, are thought to be when a large sand and bar was deposited at the site. May 23 is also the peak flow in 2023.
Pie diagram showing the chloride flux, in kilotons per year (kt/yr), measured in 2022, with percentages for the four major rivers (Madison, Yellowstone, Snake, and Falls rivers) that drain Yellowstone National Park. Figure developed by Baine McCleskey.
Pie diagram showing the chloride flux, in kilotons per year (kt/yr), measured in 2022, with percentages for the four major rivers (Madison, Yellowstone, Snake, and Falls rivers) that drain Yellowstone National Park. Figure developed by Baine McCleskey.
Map of Yellowstone National Park lakes, rivers, and streams, with colors indicating the amount of arsenic in the water. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) defined by the Environmental Protection Agency for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L). In the vicinity of major geyser basins, especially on the Firehole and Madison Rivers, a
Map of Yellowstone National Park lakes, rivers, and streams, with colors indicating the amount of arsenic in the water. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) defined by the Environmental Protection Agency for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L). In the vicinity of major geyser basins, especially on the Firehole and Madison Rivers, a
Graph showing the discharge (blue) and specific conductance (black) measured at the Gardner River monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park during the June 10–13, 2022, flood.
Graph showing the discharge (blue) and specific conductance (black) measured at the Gardner River monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park during the June 10–13, 2022, flood.
Gardner River chloride flux monitoring site before and after the June 2022 flooding in Yellowstone National Park. (Left) Site prior to June 2022 storm. Note that the riverbank is near to the base of the fallen tree. USGS photo by Blaine McCleskey, May 21, 2014. (Right) Site after June 2022 storm. The probe is buried under ~4 feet of debris.
Gardner River chloride flux monitoring site before and after the June 2022 flooding in Yellowstone National Park. (Left) Site prior to June 2022 storm. Note that the riverbank is near to the base of the fallen tree. USGS photo by Blaine McCleskey, May 21, 2014. (Right) Site after June 2022 storm. The probe is buried under ~4 feet of debris.
The Yellowstone River is divided into five reaches (labeled and color-coded): Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Tower–Gardner, and Mammoth. Monitoring stations (yellow dots on map) between each reach of the river reaches allow geochemists to measure river composition and then determine the sources of chloride (Cl) and other solu
The Yellowstone River is divided into five reaches (labeled and color-coded): Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Tower–Gardner, and Mammoth. Monitoring stations (yellow dots on map) between each reach of the river reaches allow geochemists to measure river composition and then determine the sources of chloride (Cl) and other solu
A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right). The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.
A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right). The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.
Hydrograph showing discharge in cubic feet per second for Corwin Springs streamgage site on the Yellowstone River, MT, spanning 1889-2023. The spike in 2022 is from the June floods of that year.
Hydrograph showing discharge in cubic feet per second for Corwin Springs streamgage site on the Yellowstone River, MT, spanning 1889-2023. The spike in 2022 is from the June floods of that year.
Plot of specific conductance, discharge, and temperature measured at the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, Montana, during early-mid 2023. The anomalous spikes in temperature and specific conductance on May 23, 2023, are thought to be when a large sand and bar was deposited at the site. May 23 is also the peak flow in 2023.
Plot of specific conductance, discharge, and temperature measured at the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, Montana, during early-mid 2023. The anomalous spikes in temperature and specific conductance on May 23, 2023, are thought to be when a large sand and bar was deposited at the site. May 23 is also the peak flow in 2023.
Pie diagram showing the chloride flux, in kilotons per year (kt/yr), measured in 2022, with percentages for the four major rivers (Madison, Yellowstone, Snake, and Falls rivers) that drain Yellowstone National Park. Figure developed by Baine McCleskey.
Pie diagram showing the chloride flux, in kilotons per year (kt/yr), measured in 2022, with percentages for the four major rivers (Madison, Yellowstone, Snake, and Falls rivers) that drain Yellowstone National Park. Figure developed by Baine McCleskey.
Map of Yellowstone National Park lakes, rivers, and streams, with colors indicating the amount of arsenic in the water. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) defined by the Environmental Protection Agency for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L). In the vicinity of major geyser basins, especially on the Firehole and Madison Rivers, a
Map of Yellowstone National Park lakes, rivers, and streams, with colors indicating the amount of arsenic in the water. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) defined by the Environmental Protection Agency for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L). In the vicinity of major geyser basins, especially on the Firehole and Madison Rivers, a
Graph showing the discharge (blue) and specific conductance (black) measured at the Gardner River monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park during the June 10–13, 2022, flood.
Graph showing the discharge (blue) and specific conductance (black) measured at the Gardner River monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park during the June 10–13, 2022, flood.
Gardner River chloride flux monitoring site before and after the June 2022 flooding in Yellowstone National Park. (Left) Site prior to June 2022 storm. Note that the riverbank is near to the base of the fallen tree. USGS photo by Blaine McCleskey, May 21, 2014. (Right) Site after June 2022 storm. The probe is buried under ~4 feet of debris.
Gardner River chloride flux monitoring site before and after the June 2022 flooding in Yellowstone National Park. (Left) Site prior to June 2022 storm. Note that the riverbank is near to the base of the fallen tree. USGS photo by Blaine McCleskey, May 21, 2014. (Right) Site after June 2022 storm. The probe is buried under ~4 feet of debris.
The Yellowstone River is divided into five reaches (labeled and color-coded): Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Tower–Gardner, and Mammoth. Monitoring stations (yellow dots on map) between each reach of the river reaches allow geochemists to measure river composition and then determine the sources of chloride (Cl) and other solu
The Yellowstone River is divided into five reaches (labeled and color-coded): Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Tower–Gardner, and Mammoth. Monitoring stations (yellow dots on map) between each reach of the river reaches allow geochemists to measure river composition and then determine the sources of chloride (Cl) and other solu
A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right). The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.
A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right). The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.