Geology topics

Emily M. Elliott

Publications and source records attributed to Emily M. Elliott.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2019

Unprocessed atmospheric nitrate in waters of the Northern Forest Region in the USA and Canada

Little is known about the regional extent and variability of nitrate from atmospheric deposition that is transported to streams without biological processing in forests. We measured water chemistry and isotopic tracers (δ 18 O and δ 15 N) of nitrate sources across the Northern Forest Region of the U.S. and Canada and reanalyzed data from other studies to determine when, where, and how unprocessed atmospheric nitrate was transported in catchments. These inputs were more widespread and numerous than commonly recognized, but with high spatial and temporal variability. Only 6 of 32 streams had high fractions (>20%) of unprocessed atmospheric nitrate during baseflow. Seventeen had high fractions during stormflow or snowmelt, which corresponded to large fractions in near-surface soil waters or groundwaters, but not deep groundwater. The remaining 10 streams occasionally had some (<20%) unprocessed atmospheric nitrate during stormflow or baseflow. Large, sporadic events may continue to be cryptic due to atmospheric deposition variation among storms and a near complete lack of monitoring for these events. A general lack of observance may bias perceptions of occurrence; sustained monitoring of chronic nitrogen pollution effects on forests with nitrate source apportionments may offer insights needed to advance the science as well as assess regulatory and management schemes.

Environmental Science and Technology↗

USGS2011

Tracking nonpoint source nitrogen pollution in human-impacted watersheds

Nonpoint source nitrogen (N) pollution is a leading contributor to U.S. water quality impairments. We combined watershed N mass balances and stable isotopes to investigate fate and transport of nonpoint N in forest, agricultural, and urbanized watersheds at the Baltimore Long-Term Ecological Research site. Annual N retention was 55%, 68%, and 82% for agricultural, suburban, and forest watersheds, respectively. Analysis of δ 15 N-NO 3 – , and δ 18 O-NO 3 – indicated wastewater was an important nitrate source in urbanized streams during baseflow. Negative correlations between δ 15 N-NO 3 – and δ 18 O-NO 3 – in urban watersheds indicated mixing between atmospheric deposition and wastewater, and N source contributions changed with storm magnitude (atmospheric sources contributed &sim;50% at peak storm N loads). Positive correlations between δ 15 N-NO 3 – and δ 18 O-NO 3 – in watersheds suggested denitrification was removing septic system and agriculturally derived N, but N from belowground leaking sewers was less susceptible to denitrification. N transformations were also observed in a storm drain (no natural drainage network) potentially due to organic carbon inputs. Overall, nonpoint sources such as atmospheric deposition, wastewater, and fertilizer showed different susceptibility to watershed N export. There were large changes in nitrate sources as a function of runoff, and anticipating source changes in response to climate and storms will be critical for managing nonpoint N pollution.

Environmental Science & Technology↗

USGS2008

Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems

No abstract available.

Book chapter↗

USGS2007

Nitrogen isotopes as indicators of NOx source contributions to atmospheric nitrate deposition across the midwestern and northeastern United States

Global inputs of NO x are dominated by fossil fuel combustion from both stationary and vehicular sources and far exceed natural NO x sources. However, elucidating NO x sources to any given location remains a difficult challenge, despite the need for this information to develop sound regulatory and mitigation strategies. We present results from a regional-scale study of nitrogen isotopes (δ 15 N) in wet nitrate deposition across 33 sites in the midwestern and northeastern U.S. We demonstrate that spatial variations in δ 15 N are strongly correlated with NO x emissions from surrounding stationary sources and additionally that δ 15 N is more strongly correlated with surrounding stationary source NO x emissions than pH, SO 4 2- , or NO 3 - concentrations. Although emission inventories indicate that vehicle emissions are the dominant NO x source in the eastern U.S., our results suggest that wet NO 3 - deposition at sites in this study is strongly associated with NO x emissions from stationary sources. This suggests that large areas of the landscape potentially receive atmospheric NO y deposition inputs in excess of what one would infer from existing monitoring data alone. Moreover, we determined that spatial patterns in δ 15 N values are a robust indicator of stationary NO x contributions to wet NO 3 - deposition and hence a valuable complement to existing tools for assessing relationships between NO 3 - deposition, regional emission inventories, and for evaluating progress toward NO x reduction goals.

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, ↗