Geology topics
Research about Great Salt Lake
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Great Salt Lake.
Estimated inflow and evaporation for Great Salt Lake, Utah, 1931-76, with revised model for evaluating the effects of dikes on the water and salt balance of the lake
A water budget for Great Salt Lake, Utah, was computed with 1-month intervals for the 46-year period of 1931-76. This budget updates previous computations for 1931-73, The updating was made on the basis of additional data collected during 1974-76. The storage change ( Δ S) during each month was computed from a budget of surface inflow (Is), ground-water inflow (Ig), precipitation on the lake surface (Ip), a calibration parameter (Ium) representing the net deficit between the estimated net inflows and the observed net inflows as computed from the observed altitude hydrograph, and outflow from evaporation (Oe), where Δ S= Is + Ig + Ip+ Ium - Oe. Based on additional pan-evaporation data collected at six sites around the perimeter of the lake, estimates of evaporation rates were reduced about 8 percent. The annual evaporation ranged from about 2.1 to 3.9 million acre-feet (2,600 to 4,800 cubic hectometers) and averaged 2.9 million acre-feet (3,576 cubic hectometers). Based on addie6nal surface-inflow data collected during 1974-76, the annual surface inflow to the lake for 1931-76 ranged from 705,200 (1934) to 3,767,000 (1971) acre-feet (870 to 4,645 cubic hectometers) and averaged 1,926,000 acre-feet (2,375 cubic hectometers). No changes were made to the 1931-73 estimates of precipitation (Ip) on the lake surface or to the estimate of ground-water inflow (Ig). These averaged 870,000 and 75,000 acre-feet (1,072 and 92.5 cubic hectometers) per year, respectively. The total annual inflow to Great Salt Lake during 1931-76 (Is + Ig + Ip+ Ium) ranged from about 1.3 (1961) to 5.0 (1971 and 1975) million acre-feet (1,603 to 6,165 cubic hectometers) and averaged 2.9 million acre-feet (3,575 cubic hectometers). Some minor revisions were made to the digital-computer model used to compute the water and salt balance for the Great Salt Lake. Most revisions involved adaption to the longer base period of 1931-76 and revision of the water budget as a result of changes in estimates of evaporation and surface inflow.
Model for evaluating the effects of dikes on the water and salt balance of Great Salt Lake, Utah
A model was developed for predicting the water and salt budget for various diking options in Great Salt Lake.
Textural variation within Great Salt Lake algal mounds
This chapter discusses textural variation within the Great Salt Lake algal mounds. Great Salt Lake algal mounds contain: (1) a framework of non-skeletal, algally induced aragonite precipitates; (2) internal sediment; and (3) inorganic cement. These three elements create a variety of laminated, poorly laminated, and unlaminated internal textures. Interior framework precipitates bear little resemblance to the present living film of the mound surface. Internal texture of the mounds is believed to be largely relict and to have resulted from precipitation by algae different than those presently living at the surface. The most probable cause of local extinction of the algal flora is change in brine salinity. Precipitated blue-green algal structures in ancient rocks may indicate other than normal marine salinity and near shore sedimentation. Extreme variation of internal texture reflects extreme environmental variability typical of closed basin lakes. Recognition of mounds similar to those in the Great Salt Lake can be a first step toward recognition of ancient hyper-saline lake deposits, if such an interpretation is substantiated by consideration of the entire depositional milieu of precipitated algal mounds.
An outbreak of erysipelas in eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis)
An outbreak of erysipelas killed an estimated 5,000 aquatic birds on Great Salt Lake (Utah) in late November, 1975. Although several thousand ducks and gulls were using the lake, at least 99 percent of the victims were eared grebes. A hypothetical explanation for the selective mortality is offered.
The effects of restricted circulation on the salt balance of Great Salt Lake, Utah
During the 1970-1972 water years a net load of dissolved solids of 0.26 billion tons moved from the south to north part of Great Salt Lake, Utah, through the causeway of the Southern Pacific Transportation Co. The load loss from the south part during the 1972 water year was only 0.01 billion tons, thus indicating that the salt balance between the two parts of the lake was near equilibrium for inflow conditions such as those of 1972.
Effects of a causeway on the chemistry of the brine in Great Salt Lake, Utah
During 1958-59, the Southern Pacific Co. constructed a permeable rockfill causeway to carry its railroad tracks across Great Salt Lake. The causeway divides the lake into two parts and interrupts the formerly free movement of brine about the lake. The causeway has caused significant changes in the chemistry of the lake, including a dilution of the brine in the south part of the lake and a concentration of the brine in the north part.
Great Salt Lake, Utah: Chemical and physical variations of the brine, 1963-1966
Great Salt Lake is a shallow, closed-basin lake in northern Utah. Its surface area and concentration of dissolved solids vary in response to both annual and long-term climatic changes. The lake gains water mainly as streamflow from mountains to the east and loses water through evaporation. In 1965, at a lake-surface altitude of 4,194 feet, the surface area was about 1,000 square miles, and the maximum measured depth was 27 feet. Studies to define the variations in chemical and physical characteristics of the brine began in 1963, and detailed sampling of the lake at 29 sites was made in October 1965 and May 1966. Data resulting from concurrent sampling of the 29 sites indicated that four types of brine coexist in the lake.
Dissolved-mineral inflow to Great Salt Lake and chemical characteristics of the salt lake brine: Summary for water years 1960, 1961, and 1964
The investigation of dissolved-mineral inflow to Great Salt Lake during the water years 1960, 1961, and 1964 was conducted during conditions of streamflow that were representative of the lowest and the average recorded during the water years 1934-64. The study conducted during the 1960 and 1961 water years was limited to defining surface-water inflow at sites close to the lakeshore, as well as at sites used in the 1960-6 study. From these comparative data, estimates of inflow at the lakeshore were made for the 1960 and 1961 water years. During the 1964 water year, when inflow to the lake was probably representative of the 31-year period, about 800,000 acre-feet of water containing 2,200,000 tons of dissolved solids entered the lake. During the years of average streamflow, about 500,000 acre-feet of water which might be developed for culinary use, passes the lowest sampling sites on the Bear and Weber Rivers. Also, more than 90 percent of the flow near the mouths of the Bear, Weber, and Jordan Rivers would be suitable for irrigation. Sources of inflow could be selected to provide a water supply for a fresh-water lake east of Antelope Island. The supply would range from 300,000 acre-feet of water containing 800 ppm (parts per million) of dissolved solids during periods of low streamflow to 1 million acre-feet containing 500 ppm during periods of average streamflow.
Dissolved-mineral inflow to Great Salt Lake and chemical characteristics of the salt lake brine. Part II: Technical report
During the 1960 and 1961 water years an annual load of about 2 million tons of dissolved minerals was contributed to the Great Salt Lake area by surficial sources. Almost 60 percent of this load was sodium and chloride. Of the six units contributing to the lake area, three - the Bear River, the Jordan River, and the unit comprising drains and sewage canals – contributed about three-fourths of the runoff and of the load. The water type of these tributaries ranged from bicarbonate in the headwaters to sulfate and chloride near the mouths; the dissolved-solids concentrations were higher in the downstream reaches than in the headwaters.
Dissolved-mineral inflow to Great Salt Lake and chemical characteristics of the salt lake brine. Part I: Selected hydrologic data
This report presents the data collected for a study of the dissolved-mineral load contributed by surficial sources to Great Salt Lake, Utah. The study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the University of Utah during the period from July 1959 through June 1962, and is part of an overall investigation of the Great Salt Lake basin by the University. Financial support for the study was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and by the University of Utah Research Fund and Uniform School Fund. Some of the data presented in this report were obtained as part of cooperative programs between the Geological Survey and other agencies.