Geology topics

L.R. Frost

Publications and source records attributed to L.R. Frost.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1984

Illinois ground-water observation network; a preliminary planning document for network design

Water-level and water-quality networks in Illinois were evaluated to determine the adequacy and completeness of available data bases. Ground-water data in present data bases are inadequate to provide information on ground-water quality and water levels in large areas of Illinois and in the major geohydrologic units underlying Illinois and surrounding areas. Data-management needs indicate that a new data base is desirable and could be developed by use of carefully selected available data and new data. Types of data needed to define ground-water quality and water levels in selected geohydrologic units were tentatively identified. They include data on concentrations of organic chemicals related to activities of man, and concentrations of inorganic chemicals which relate either to man 's activities or to the chemical composition of the source aquifer. Water-level data are needed which can be used to describe short- and long-term stresses on the ground-water resources of Illinois. Establishment of priorities for data collection has been deferred until existing hydrologic data files can be stored for usable data and until input from other local, State, and Federal agencies can be solicited and compiled. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1984

Evaluation of a hydrograph-shifting method for estimating suspended-sediment loads in Illinois streams

A hydrograph-shifting method for estimating monthly and annual suspended-sediment loads was applied to suspended-sediment records for 12 streams in Illinois. Transport equations for each station were developed and synthetic sediment-discharge hydrographs were then generated by using these transport equations and records of daily streamflow. Hydrographs were shifted to measured values of daily sediment discharge selected to represent weekly, biweekly, and monthly sampling frequencies. Estimates of monthly suspended-sediment load ranged from 16 to 326 percent of measured values. Estimates of annual suspended-sediment loads ranged from 41 to 136 percent of measured values. (The method provides a reasonable means of estimating annual loads for most sites.) An experiment designed to measure the subjectivity of the method showed it to be more dependent on the particular days selected as control points than on the person applying the method. An evaluation of the effect of the length of record used to develop transport equations was not conclusive. Although standard errors of estimate showed no improvement, the comparison of estimated loads with measured loads showed slight improvement when 1 or 2 years of data were added to the data used to develop transport equations. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1981

Hydrologic effects of highway-deicing chemicals in Massachusetts

Methods of estimating annual mean and annual maximum chloride concentrations and sodium concentrations in streams were developed using multiple and simple linear regression techniques and data collected during the 1972-77 water years. Independent variables are easily obtainable parameters such as total salt application within a basin, annual precipitation, and drainage basin characteristics. Methods for obtaining gross estimates of chloride loads and sodium loads from salt-application data and estimates of nonhighway-related chloride and sodium were suggested. A chloride budget was calculated for a small drainage basin containing a section of interstate highway. The chloride budget was described in terms of the percentages in direct runoff to the stream, in ground-water discharges to the stream, in storage in the ground, and in the amount unaccounted for. Attempts were made to relate chloride concentrations in ground water adjacent to highways to quantities of salt applied to the highways on an annual basis, annual precipitation, depth of the wells below land surface, depth of wells below the water table, and distance of well from edge of pavement. Little correlation was observed between annual salt-application values and annual mean chloride concentrations in ground water near highways. The irregular distribution of highway runoff, due to topographic differences between sites, and variations in salting and runoff during individual storm events seem to affect correlation between quantities of salt applied and chloride concentrations in ground water near highways. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1981

Hydrologic effects of highway-deicing chemicals in Massachusetts; executive summary

Methods of estimating annual mean and annual maximum chloride concentrations in streams were developed through multiple and simple linear regression techniques using data collected during the 1972-77 water years. Independent variables are easily obtainable parameters, such as total salt application within a basin, annual precipitation, and drainage basin characteristics. Methods for obtaining gross estimates of chloride loads and sodium loads from salt-application data and estimates of nonhighway-related chloride and sodium were suggested. A chloride budget was calculated for a small basin draining a section of interstate highway. The chloride budget was described in terms of the percentages in direct runoff to the stream, in ground-water discharges to the stream, in storage in the ground, and the amount unaccounted for. Attempts were made to relate chloride concentrations in ground water adjacent to highways to quantities of salt applied to the highways on an annual basis, annual precipitation, depth of the wells below land surface, depth of the well below water table, and the distance of the well from the edge of the pavement. Little correlation was observed between annual salt-application values and annual mean chloride concentrations in ground water near highways. The irregular distribution of highway runoff, due to topographic differences between sites, and variations in runoff resulting from individual storms seem to be the causes of the lack of significant correlation between annual quantities of salt applied and chloride concentrations in ground water near highways. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1976

Effect of deicing chemicals on the hydrologic environment in Massachusetts; evaluation of surface-water data collection

The objective of this study is to develop predictive relationships that can be used to describe the impact of highway deicing salts on the hydrologic environment. A method, presented in an earlier report, for estimating yearly mean chloride concentrations from estimated or actual runoff and salt-application data was applied to the period 1971 through1974 and the results compared with yearly mean chloride concentrations computed from records of specific conductance. Estimates were found to be from minus 63 percent to plus 56 percent in error when the error was expressed as the difference between estimated and computed values as a percentage of the computed values. Chloride concentrations used in this study are computed from specific conductance/chloride concentration relationships and records of specific conductance. Preliminary results from graphic analyses and least-squares regression analysis show that relationships between measured values of specific conductance and chloride concentration have correlation coefficients ranging from 0.30 to 0.97. Analysis of streamflow for all major dissolved constituents is recommended with the purpose of attempting to describe the variations in the specific conductance/chloride concentration relationships.

Massachusetts↗