Rob Runkel
Biography
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude, 1985, Computer Science and Environmental Studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Master of Environmental Management, 1987, Water Resources, Duke University: Monte Carlo Analysis of the Surface Water Component for Land Disposal Restriction Determinations
Doctor of Philosophy, 1993, Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado: Development and Application of an Equilibrium-based Simulation Model for Reactive Solute Transport in Small Streams
EMPLOYMENT
1987-1989 Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
1989-1992 Research Engineer, University of Colorado, Center for Advanced Decision Support in Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES), Boulder, Colorado
1992-Present Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
MISC.
Associate Editor, Water Resources Research, 2006–2014
Member, American Geophysical Union
Member, Society for Freshwater Science
Science and Products
Quantification of metal loading in Fisher Creek by tracer injection and synoptic sampling, Park County, Montana, August 1997
Acid mine drainage from abandoned and inactive mines affects the water quality of the upper reaches of Fisher Creek, Montana. A sodium chloride tracer was added to the stream for 29.5 hours to provide a hydrologic context for synoptic sampling of metal chemistry in the stream and its inflows. The detailed profile of stream discharge obtained from...
Kimball, Briant A.; Nimick, David A.; Gerner, Linda J.; Runkel, Robert L.
Reactive solute transport in streams: A surface complexation approach for trace metal sorption
A model for trace metals that considers in-stream transport, metal oxide precipitation-dissolution, and pH-dependent sorption is presented. Linkage between a surface complexation submodel and the stream transport equations provides a framework for modeling sorption onto static and/or dynamic surfaces. A static surface (e.g., an iron- oxide-coated...
Runkel, Robert L.; Kimball, Briant A.; McKnight, Diane M.; Bencala, Kenneth E.
One-Dimensional Transport with Inflow and Storage (OTIS): A Solute Transport Model for Streams and Rivers
OTIS is a mathematical simulation model used to characterize the fate and transport of water-borne solutes in streams and rivers. The governing equation underlying the model is the advection-dispersion equation with additional terms to account for transient storage, lateral inflow, first-order decay, and sorption. This equation and the associated...
Runkel, Robert L. Analysis of transient storage subject to unsteady flow: Diel flow variation in an Antarctic stream
Transport of dissolved material in streams and small rivers may be characterized using tracer-dilution methods and solute transport models. Recent studies have quantified stream/substream interactions using models of transient storage. These studies are based on tracer-dilution data obtained during periods of steady flow. We present a modeling...
Runkel, R.L.; McKnight, Diane M.; Andrews, E.D. Reactive solute transport in streams: 1. Development of an equilibrium- based model
An equilibrium-based solute transport model is developed for the simulation of trace metal fate and transport in streams. The model is formed by coupling a solute transport model with a chemical equilibrium submodel based on MINTEQ. The solute transport model considers the physical processes of advection, dispersion, lateral inflow, and transient...
Runkel, Robert L.; Bencala, Kenneth E.; Broshears, Robert E.; Chapra, Steven C. Reactive solute transport in streams: 2. Simulation of a pH modification experiment
We present an application of an equilibrium-based solute transport model to a pH-modification experiment conducted on the Snake River, an acidic, metal-rich stream located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. During the experiment, instream pH decreased from 4.2 to 3.2, causing a marked increase in dissolved iron concentrations. Model...
Runkel, Robert L.; McKnight, Diane M.; Bencala, Kenneth E.; Chapra, Steven C. Solution of the advection-dispersion equation: Continuous load of finite duration
Field studies of solute fate and transport in streams and rivers often involve an. experimental release of solutes at an upstream boundary for a finite period of time. A review of several standard references on surface-water-quality modeling indicates that the analytical solution to the constant-parameter advection-dispersion equation for this...
Runkel, R.L. Interpreting spatial profiles of concentration in acid mine drainage streams
No abstract available.
Hotchkiss, W.R.; Downey, J. S.; Gutentag, E. D.; Broshears, R. E.; Kimball, Briant A.; Runkel, Robert L. Transport of reacting solutes in rivers and streams
In this chapter we discuss the major processes affecting solutes in rivers and streams. Here a solute is generally defined as any substance or entity that is transported downstream by the flowing waters. Under this definition, solutes may be pollutants, such as pesticides and hydrocarbons, or naturally occurring substances such as...
Singh, Vijay P.; Runkel, Robert L.; Bencala, Kenneth E. Reply to “Comment on ‘An efficient numerical solution of the transient storage equations for solute transport in small streams" by R. L. Runkel and S. C. Chapra
We thank Dawes and Short [this issue] for presenting an alternate technique for the efficient solution of the transient storage solute transport equations. After reading their comment, it is clear that several points in our original manuscript are in need of clarification. In this reply we provide additional information on our solution technique...
Runkel, Robert L.; Charpa, Steven C. An efficient numerical solution of the transient storage equations for solute transport in small streams
Several investigators have proposed solute transport models that incorporate the effects of transient storage. Transient storage occurs in small streams when portions of the transported solute become isolated in zones of water that are immobile relative to water in the main channel (e.g., pools, gravel beds). Transient storage is modeled by adding...
Runkel, Robert L.; Chapra, Steven C.