Geology topics

G. R. Buell

Publications and source records attributed to G. R. Buell.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2001

A guide to potential soil carbon sequestration: Land-use management for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions

Terrestrial carbon sequestration has a potential role in reducing the recent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) that is, in part, contributing to global warming. Because the most stable long-term surface reservoir for carbon is the soil, changes in agriculture and forestry can potentially reduce atmospheric CO2 through increased soil-carbon storage. If local governments and regional planning agencies are to effect changes in land-use management that could mitigate the impacts of increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is essential to know how carbon is cycled and distributed on the landscape. Only then can a cost/benefit analysis be applied to carbon sequestration as a potential land-use management tool for mitigation of GHG emissions. For the past several years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been researching the role of terrestrial carbon in the global carbon cycle. Data from these investigations now allow the USGS to begin to (1) 'map' carbon at national, regional, and local scales; (2) calculate present carbon storage at land surface; and (3) identify those areas having the greatest potential to sequester carbon.

North Carolina↗

USGS1997

Spatial and temporal variability in nutrient concentrations in surface waters of the Chattahoochee River basin near Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Nutrient concentrations from the early 1970s through 1995 were evaluated at several sites along the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries near Atlanta, to determine general patterns and processes controlling nutrient concentrations in the river. A spatial analysis was conducted on data collected in 1994 and 1995 from an intensive nutrient study of the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division. The 1994-1995 data show step increases in ammonium (NH4-N), nitrite plus nitrate (NO2 + NO3-N), and total-phosphorus (Tot-P) concentrations in the river. The step increases occur downstream of two wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) and Peachtree Creek, a small tributary inflow with degraded water quality draining a predominantly urban and industrial area. Median NO2 + NO3-N and Tot-P concentrations in the mainstem increase downstream of these inputs from 0.5 to 1 mg 1-1 and from 0.04 to 0.13 mg 1-1, respectively. NH4-N concentrations were typically low with 95% of the 2575 observations less than 0.2 mg 1-1 throughout the river system, except some high values (>1 mg 1-1) in some tributaries, particularly near the central part of Atlanta. High NH4-N concentrations are attributed to sewage discharge as they also are associated with high biological oxygen demand and faecal coliform bacteria concentrations. Nutrient concentrations vary temporally. An assessment of four sites, two mainstem and two tributaries, from 1970 to 1995 indicates a progressive increase and variability in NO2 + NO3-N concentrations during the period. The progressive increase in NO2 + NO3-N concentrations and their variability is similar to that reported for surface waters throughout the world and for which increased fertilizer usage has been attributed. Tot-P concentrations increase at mainstem sites through the middle to late 1980s and decrease markedly thereafter, due to improvements to WWTFs and a 1990 phosphate detergent ban. NH4-N concentrations, although less pronounced than Tot-P, display a similar decrease from the late 1980s to 1995 at the four sites. Tot-P concentration variability has increased at the tributary sites since 1993, although recent concentrations, on average, are the lowest since 1970 at each of the four sites.

IAHS-AISH Publication↗

USGS1992

Water resources data, Georgia, water year 1991

Water resources data for the 1991 water year for Georgia consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; ground-water levels; and precipitation quality. This report contains discharge records of 114 gaging stations; stage for 28 gaging stations; stage and contents for 18 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 138 continuing-record stations; water quality for 1 miscellaneous site; peak stage and discharge only for 97 crest-stage partial-record stations and 8 miscellaneous sites; water levels of 25 observation wells. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Georgia.

Georgia↗

USGS1989

Water resources data for Georgia, water year 1988

Water resources data for the 1988 water year for Georgia consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; ground-water levels; and precipitation quality. This report contains discharge records of 114 gaging stations; stage for 19 gaging stations; stage and contents for 18 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 107 continuing-record stations; water-quality for 4 miscellaneous station; peak stage and discharge only for 76 crest-stage partial-record stations and 8 miscellaneous sites; base-flow discharge measurements at 149 miscellaneous sites; water levels of 26 observation wells; and water quality for 1 precipitation-quality site. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Georgia.

Georgia↗

USGS1988

Atmospheric deposition effects on the chemistry of a stream in Northeastern Georgia

The quantity and quality of precipitation and streamwater were measured from August 1985 through September 1986 in the Brier Creek watershed, a 440-ha drainage in the Southern Blue Ridge Province of northeastern Georgia, to determine stream sensitivity to acidic deposition. Precipitation samples collected at 2 sites had a volume-weighted average pH of 4.40 whereas stream samples collected near the mouth of Brier Creek had a discharge-weighted average pH of 6.70. Computed solute fluxes through the watershed and observed changes in streamwater chemistry during storm flow suggest that cation exchange, mineral weathering, SO 4 2− adsorption by the soil, and groundwater discharge to the stream are probable factors affecting neutralization of precipitation acidity. Net solute fluxes for the watershed indicate that, of the precipitation input, > 99% of the H + , 93% of the NH 4 + and NO 3 − , and 77% of the SO 4 2− were retained. Sources within the watershed yielded base cations, Cl − , and HCO 3 − and accounted for 84, 47, and 100% of the net transport, respectively. Although streamwater SO 4 2− and NO 3 − concentrations increased during stormflow, peak concentrations of these anions were much less than average concentrations in the precipitation. This suggests retention of these solutes occurs even when water residence time is short.

Georgia↗

USGS1986

Water resources data for Georgia, water year 1985

Water resources data for the 1985 water year for Georgia consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and ground-water levels. This report contains discharge records of 109 gaging stations; stage for 11 gaging stations; stage and contents for 18 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 109 continuing-record stations; peak stage and discharge only for 121 crest-stage partial-record stations and 6 miscellaneous sites; and water levels of 27 observation wells. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Georgia.

Georgia↗

USGS1985

Water resources data for Georgia, water year 1984

Water resources data for the 1984 water year for Georgia consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and ground-water levels. This report contains discharge records of 108 gaging stations; stage for 11 gaging stations; stage and contents for 17 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 14 continuous stations, 109 periodic stations and miscellaneous sites; peak stage and discharge only for 130 crest-stage partial-record stations and 44 miscellaneous sites; and water levels of 27 observation wells. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological. Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Georgia.

Georgia↗

USGS1984

Water resources data, Georgia, water year 1983

Water resources data for the 1983 water year for Georgia consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and ground-water levels. This report contains discharge records of 104 gaging stations; stage for 11 gaging stations; stage and contents for 17 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 14 continuous stations, 107 periodic stations and miscellaneous sites; peak stage and discharge only for 122 crest-stage partial-record stations and 4 miscellaneous sites; and water levels of 28 observation wells. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Georgia.

Georgia↗

USGS1983

Water resources data, Georgia, water year 1982

Water resources data for the 1982 water year for Georgia consists of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and ground-water levels. This report contains discharge records of 109 gaging stations; stage for 10 gaging stations; stage and contents for 17 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 17 continuous stations, 115 periodic stations and miscellaneous sites; peak stage and discharge only for 109 crest-stage partial-record stations and 20 miscellaneous sites; measurements of discharge at 49 low-flow partial-record stations and 15 miscellaneous sites; and water levels of 28 observation wells. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Georgia.

Georgia↗

USGS1983

A preliminary appraisal of sediment sources and transport in Kings Bay and vicinity, Georgia and Florida

Water-quality, bottom-material, suspended-sediment, and current-velocity data were collected during November 1981 in Kings Bay and vicinity to provide information on the sources and transport of estuarine sediments. Kings Bay and Cumberland Sound , the site of the Poseidon Submarine Base in southeast Georgia, are experiencing high rates of sediment deposition and accumulation, which are causing serious navigational and operational problems. Velocity, bathymetry, turbidity, and bottom-material data suggest that the area in the vicinity of lower Kings Bay is accumulating deposits of suspended sediment transported from Cumberland Sound on the floodtide and from upper Kings Bay and the tidal marsh drained by Marianna Creek on the ebbtide. Suspended-sediment discharges computed for consecutive 13-hour ebbtides and floodtides showed that a net quantity of suspended sediment was transported seaward from upper Kings Bay and Marianna Creek. A net landward transport of suspended sediment computed at the St. Marys Entrance indicated areas seaward of St. Marys Entrance may be supplying sediment to the shoaling areas of the estuary, including lower Kings Bay. (USGS)

Florida, Georgia↗