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Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
USGS2002

A fluorimetric study of the thorium-morin system

Thorium reacts with morin to yield a yellow complex that fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The effect on the fluorescence of such variables as concentration of acid, alcohol, thorium, morin, and complex; time, temperature and wave length of exciting light are studied to determine experimental conditions yielding maximum fluorescence. The effects of Zr+4, Al+3, Fe+3, Ca+2 and La+3 are discussed. The fundamental relationships between light absorption and fluorescence are expressed in a general equation that applies to a three-component system when the fluorescence is measured in a transmission-type fluorimeter. This general equation is used to obtain an expression for the fluorescence of the thoriummorin system. Equations, derived from experimental data, relate both the fraction of thorium reacted to form complex and the fraction of unquenched fluorescence to the concentration of uncombined morin. These functions, when combined with the general equation, give an expression whichrelates the total net fluorescence to the amount of uncombined morin in the solution. This last equation can be used to determine the one region for the concentration of uncombined morin that gives maximum sensitivity for the system. Calculated standard curves are in good agreement with experimental curves.

Journal of the American Chemical Society↗
USGS2004

Aqueous photolysis of niclosamide

The photodegradation of [ 14 C]niclosamide was studied in sterile, pH 5, 7, and 9 buffered aqueous solutions under artificial sunlight at 25.0 ± 1.0 °C. Photolysis in pH 5 buffer is 4.3 times faster than in pH 9 buffer and 1.5 times faster than in pH 7 buffer. In the dark controls, niclosamide degraded only in the pH 5 buffer. After 360 h of continuous irradiation in pH 9 buffer, the chromatographic pattern of the degradates was the same regardless of which ring contained the radiolabel. An HPLC method was developed that confirmed these degradates to be carbon dioxide and two- and four-carbon aliphatic acids formed by cleavage of both aromatic rings. Carbon dioxide was the major degradate, comprising ∼40% of the initial radioactivity in the 360 h samples from both labels. The other degradates formed were oxalic acid, maleic acid, glyoxylic acid, and glyoxal. In addition, in the chloronitroaniline-labeled irradiated test solution, 2-chloro-4-nitroaniline was observed and identified after 48 h of irradiation but was not detected thereafter. No other aromatic compounds were isolated or observed in either labeled test system.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry↗
USGS2003

Consequences of viscous drag beneath a transform fault

A transform fault is modeled as a vertical cut through an elastic layer (schizosphere) of thickness overlying a viscous substrate (plastosphere). We consider a steady transform motion accommodated in the schizosphere wholly by slip on the fault and in the plastosphere, insofar as possible, by viscous flow. For the case where the viscosity in the plastosphere is strain rate dependent but independent of temperature, the velocity solution in the plastosphere is θ/π, where is the slip rate on the fault in the schizosphere and and θ are the cylindrical coordinates with the origin at the bottom of the fault. The viscous stress is singular at the bottom of the fault ( = 0) and exceeds the brittle (frictional) strength for . Equating the brittle strength to the viscous stress defines the brittle–ductile boundary in the plastosphere as a function of and viscosity. The additional condition that must be small allows the viscosity to be estimated from . For small , the temperature‐independent solution is a valid approximation to the temperature‐dependent solution, and the relation between viscosity and should remain valid. From the temperature‐independent model, we estimate that self‐heating due to dissipation in the plastosphere for reasonable Earth parameters is less than ∼20°C.

Journal of Geophysical Research↗
USGS2012

Ash3d: A finite-volume, conservative numerical model for ash transport and tephra deposition

We develop a transient, 3-D Eulerian model (Ash3d) to predict airborne volcanic ash concentration and tephra deposition during volcanic eruptions. This model simulates downwind advection, turbulent diffusion, and settling of ash injected into the atmosphere by a volcanic eruption column. Ash advection is calculated using time-varying pre-existing wind data and a robust, high-order, finite-volume method. Our routine is mass-conservative and uses the coordinate system of the wind data, either a Cartesian system local to the volcano or a global spherical system for the Earth. Volcanic ash is specified with an arbitrary number of grain sizes, which affects the fall velocity, distribution and duration of transport. Above the source volcano, the vertical mass distribution with elevation is calculated using a Suzuki distribution for a given plume height, eruptive volume, and eruption duration. Multiple eruptions separated in time may be included in a single simulation. We test the model using analytical solutions for transport. Comparisons of the predicted and observed ash distributions for the 18 August 1992 eruption of Mt. Spurr in Alaska demonstrate to the efficacy and efficiency of the routine.

Journal of Geophysical Research↗
USGS2014

The role of defensible space for residential structure protection during wildfires

With the potential for worsening fire conditions, discussion is escalating over how to best reduce effects on urban communities. A widely supported strategy is the creation of defensible space immediately surrounding homes and other structures. Although state and local governments publish specific guidelines and requirements, there is little empirical evidence to suggest how much vegetation modification is needed to provide significant benefits. We analysed the role of defensible space by mapping and measuring a suite of variables on modern pre-fire aerial photography for 1000 destroyed and 1000 surviving structures for all fires where homes burned from 2001 to 2010 in San Diego County, CA, USA. Structures were more likely to survive a fire with defensible space immediately adjacent to them. The most effective treatment distance varied between 5 and 20 m (16–58 ft) from the structure, but distances larger than 30 m (100 ft) did not provide additional protection, even for structures located on steep slopes. The most effective actions were reducing woody cover up to 40% immediately adjacent to structures and ensuring that vegetation does not overhang or touch the structure. Multiple-regression models showed landscape-scale factors, including low housing density and distances to major roads, were more important in explaining structure destruction. The best long-term solution will involve a suite of prevention measures that include defensible space as well as building design approach, community education and proactive land use planning that limits exposure to fire.

International Journal of Wildland Fire↗
USGS2017

Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts

The purpose of this study was to investigate behavior and survival of radio-tagged wild and hatchery-reared landlocked Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar smolts as they migrated past three hydropower dams equipped with fish bypass solutions in the Winooski River, Vermont. Among hatchery-reared smolts, those released early were more likely to initiate migration and did so after less delay than those released late. Once migration was initiated, however, the late-released hatchery smolts migrated at greater speeds. Throughout the river system, hatchery-reared fish performed similarly to wild fish. Dam passage rates varied between the three dams and was highest at the dam where unusually high spill levels occurred throughout the study period. Of the 50 fish that did migrate downstream, only 10% managed to reach the lake. Migration success was low despite the presence of bypass solutions, underscoring the need for evaluations of remedial measures; simply constructing a fishway is not synonymous with providing fish passage.

Vermont↗
USGS1992

Aluminum in soil solutions from a subalpine spruce-fir forest at Whiteface Mountain, New York

Direct or indirect Al toxicity has been suggested as a principal factor in forest tree declines. We monitored ambient soil solutions in undisturbed and experimentally manipulated soils from a fir [ Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.]-spruce forest on Whiteface Mountain, NY, in order to characterize soil solution Al concentrations over a range of acid anion loadings. Under both natural and experimental conditions total Al and labile Al concentrations rarely exceeded values (180–250 µmol L −1 ) associated with reduced root growth in red spruce ( Picea rubens Sarg.). Over a 2-yr period ambient soil solutions averaged 76 and 46 µmol L −1 total Al in the organic and mineral horizons, respectively. The highest monthly mean concentrations occurred in winter. Disturbance-induced NO 3 accumulation and simulated acid rain applications produced higher peak Al values in experimental plots than were observed in undisturbed and untreated plots. Although soils of the fir-spruce zone exhibited the potential to yield solutions with phytotoxic Al concentrations, it appears that such concentrations are both spatially and temporally limited and infrequently present a direct stress to root growth in red spruce.

New York↗
USGS2021

Using enclosed Y-mazes to assess chemosensory behavior in reptiles

Reptiles utilize a variety of environmental cues to inform and drive animal behavior such as chemical scent trails produced by food or conspecifics. Decrypting the scent-trailing behavior of vertebrates, particularly invasive species, enables the discovery of cues that induce exploratory behavior and can aid in the development of valuable basic and applied biological tools. However, pinpointing behaviors dominantly driven by chemical cues versus other competing environmental cues can be challenging. Y-mazes are common tools used in animal behavior research that allow quantification of vertebrate chemosensory behavior across a range of taxa. By reducing external stimuli, Y-mazes remove confounding factors and present focal animals with a binary choice. In our Y-maze studies, a scenting animal is restricted to one arm of the maze to leave a scent trail and is removed once scent-laying parameters have been met. Then, depending on the trial type, either the focal animal is allowed into the maze, or a competing scent trail is created. The result is a record of the focal animal's choice and behavior while discriminating between the chemical cues presented. Here, two Y-maze apparatuses tailored to different invasive reptile species: Argentine black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae) and Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are described, outlining the operation and cleaning of these Y-mazes. Further, the variety of data produced, experimental drawbacks and solutions, and suggested data analysis frameworks have been summarized.

Journal of Visualized Experiments↗
USGS2019

Joint system-input identification of bridge structures

This paper presents a novel framework for system identification of bridge structures using recorded earthquake data. Bridge structures are prone to spatial variability of ground motions because they extend over relatively long distances. So, input motion measurement is a challenging task, especially for long bridges with multiple piers. Moreover, direct measurement of the bridge Foundation Input Motions (FIMs) may not be possible due to both inertial and kinematic Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) effects. In this study, we propose a joint system-input identification solution using sparsely measured earthquake-induced responses. We verify this method and its applicability for real scale problems using simulated data obtained from the Golden Gate Bridge.

California↗
USGS1973

Fluorescent spectroscopy, a technique for characterizing surface films

A relationship is established between fluorescent spectra obtained by using a light path through the liquid solution and the fluorescent spectra obtained by a direct reading of surface reflection (remote sensing). A brief review of quantum fundamentals provides the necessary information to conclude that "see-through" and reflectance spectra are identical in wavelength response. Many floating films contain fluorescent materials; thus fluorescent spectroscopic techniques were used to obtain the fluorescent spectra of lube oil, crude oil, and lignosulfonie acid in an effort to detect, identify, and quantify these representative fluorescent materials in water solutions. For each material tested the emission maximum was established. The emission maximum was then held constant while the absorption spectrum was recorded and the absorption maximum established. The complete spectral curves are presented.

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey↗
USGS2002

Employment of Gibbs-Donnan-based concepts for interpretation of the properties of linear polyelectrolyte solutions

Earlier research has shown that the acid dissociation and metal ion complexation equilibria of linear, weak-acid polyelectrolytes and their cross-linked gel analogues are similarly sensitive to the counterion concentration levels of their solutions. Gibbs-Donnan-based concepts, applicable to the gel, are equally applicable to the linear polyelectrolyte for the accommodation of this sensitivity to ionic strength. This result is presumed to indicate that the linear polyelectrolyte in solution develops counterion-concentrating regions that closely resemble the gel phase of their analogues. Advantage has been taken of this description of linear polyelectrolytes to estimate the solvent uptake by these regions. ?? 1991 American Chemical Society.

Journal of Physical Chemistry↗
USGS1977

Preparation of pyrite-coated sand grains for research on roll-type uranium deposits

Ordinary quartz sand grains can be coated with pyrite for use in laboratory experiments on the genetic geochemistry of roll-type uranium deposits. The sand is first added to a ferric chloride solution. The slow addition of sodium hydroxide to the mixture gives the sand grains an iron oxide coating. This coating is then converted to pyrite by reaction with hydrogen sulfide, thus yielding a product suitable for experimental use.

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey↗
USGS1987

Characteristics of hydrolysis of the complex Na2SnF6 in hydrothermal solutions-An experimental study

Characteristics of hydrolysis of the complex Na2SnF6, which is used as the starting material, in hydrothermal solutions have been studied at 200-602??C and 1 kbar. Experimental results show that intense hydrolysis of Na2SnF6 occurs at high temperatures and that with the rise of temperature the hydrolysis will become more intense. Under the present experimental conditions the most possible existing form of Sn in the hydrothermal solutions is SnF3(OH) or Na2SnF3(OH). In addition, the hydrolysis constants for Na2SnF6 have also been calculated at 200-602??C, and the relationship between Na2SnF6 hydrolysis and temperature is discussed. ?? 1987 Science Press.

Chinese Journal of Geochemistry↗
USGS2018

Long-term changes in pond permanence, size, and salinity in Prairie Pothole Region wetlands: The role of groundwater-pond interaction

Study Region Cottonwood Lake area wetlands, North Dakota, U.S.A. Study Focus Fluctuations in pond permanence, size, and salinity are key features of prairie-pothole wetlands that provide a variety of wetland habitats for waterfowl in the northern prairie of North America. Observation of water-level and salinity fluctuations in a semi-permanent wetland pond over a 20-year period, included periods when the wetland occasionally was dry, as well as wetter years when the pond depth and surface extent doubled while volume increased 10 times. New hydrological insights for the study region Compared to all other measured budget components, groundwater flow into the pond often contributed the least water (8–28 percent) but the largest amount (>90 percent) of specific solutes to the water and solute budgets of the pond. In drier years flow from the pond into groundwater represented > 10 percent of water loss, and in 1992 was approximately equal to evapotranspiration loss. Also during the drier years, export of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfate by flow from the pond to groundwater was substantial compared with previous or subsequent years, a process that would have been undetected if groundwater flux had been calculated as a net value. Independent quantification of water and solute gains and losses were essential to understand controls on water-level and salinity fluctuations in the pond in response to variable climate conditions.

Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies↗
USGS2014

Quantity and quality of groundwater discharge in a hypersaline lake environment

Geophysical and geochemical surveys were conducted to understand groundwater discharge to Great Salt Lake (GSL) and assess the potential significance of groundwater discharge as a source of selenium (Se). Continuous resistivity profiling (CRP) focusing below the sediment/water interface and fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) surveys were conducted along the south shore of GSL. FO-DTS surveys identified persistent cold-water temperature anomalies at 10 separate locations. Seepage measurements were conducted at 17 sites (mean seepage rate = 0.8 cm/day). High resistivity anomalies identified by the CRP survey were likely a mirabilite (Na 2 SO 4 ·10H 2 O) salt layer acting as a semi-confining layer for the shallow groundwater below the south shore of the lake. Positive seepage rates measured along the near-shore areas of GSL indicate that a ∼1-m thick oolitic sand overlying the mirabilite layer is likely acting as a shallow, unconfined aquifer. Using the average seepage rate of 0.8 cm/day over an area of 1.6 km 2 , an annual Se mass loading to GSL of 23.5 kg was estimated. Determination of R/Ra values (calculated 3 He/ 4 He ratio over the present-day atmospheric 3 He/ 4 He ratio) <1 and tritium activities of 1.2–2.0 tritium units in groundwater within and below the mirabilite layer indicates a convergence of regional and local groundwater flow paths discharging into GSL. Groundwater within and below the mirabilite layer obtains its high sulfate salinity from the dissolution of mirabilite. The δ 34 S and δ 18 O isotopic values in samples of dissolved sulfate from the shallow groundwater below the mirabilite are almost identical to the isotopic signature of the mirabilite core material. The saturation index calculated for groundwater samples using PHREEQC indicates the water is at equilibrium with mirabilite. Water samples collected from GSL immediately off shore contained Se concentrations that were 3–4 times higher than other sampling sites >25 km offshore from the study site and may be originating from less saline groundwater seeps mixing with the more saline water from GSL. Additional evidence for mixing with near shore seeps is found in the δD and δ 18 O isotopic values and Br:Cl ratios. Geochemical modeling for a water sample collected in the vicinity of the study area indicates that under chemically reducing conditions, arsenic- (As) bearing minerals could dissolve while Se-bearing minerals will likely precipitate out of solution, possibly explaining why the shallow groundwater below and within the mirabilite salt layer contains low concentrations of Se (0.9–2.3 μg/L).

Utah↗
USGS2007

Isotope hydrology dynamics of riverine wetlands in the Kankakee Watershed, Indiana

Wetland restoration activities may disturb shallow ground-water flow dynamics. There may be unintentional sources of water flowing into a constructed wetland that could compromise the long-term viability of a wetland function. Measurement of naturally-occurring isotopes in the hydrosphere can provide an indication of provenance, flow paths or components, and residence times or ages of wetland ground-water flow systems. Hydraulic head measurements may not provide sufficient detail of shallow flow disturbances and can be complemented by analyzing isotopes in waters flowing through the wetland. Two north-central Indiana wetlands in the Kankakee watershed are being studied to determine the adequacy of wetland restoration activities. The native LaSalle wetland and the restored Hog Marsh wetland have contrasting ground-water flow regimes. The conservative water isotopes 18 O, 2 H, and 3 H, and selected solute isotopes 13 C, 14 C, 15 N, 34 S, 87 Sr, and 206–208Pb, demonstrate the complexity of ground-water flow in Hog Marsh compared to the established flow regime at the LaSalle wetland.

Indiana↗
USGS2024

Joint spatial modeling bridges the gap between disparate disease surveillance and population monitoring efforts informing conservation of at-risk bat species

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a wildlife disease that has decimated hibernating bats since its introduction in North America in 2006. As the disease spreads westward, assessing the potentially differential impact of the disease on western bat species is an urgent conservation need. The statistical challenge is that the disease surveillance and species response monitoring data are not co-located, available at different spatial resolutions, non-Gaussian, and subject to observation error requiring a novel extension to spatially misaligned regression models for analysis. Previous work motivated by epidemiology applications has proposed two-step approaches that overcome the spatial misalignment while intentionally preventing the human health outcome from informing estimation of exposure. In our application, the impacted animals contribute to spreading the fungus that causes WNS, motivating development of a joint framework that exploits the known biological relationship. We introduce a Bayesian, joint spatial modeling framework that provides inferences about the impact of WNS on measures of relative bat activity and accounts for the uncertainty in estimation of WNS presence at non-surveyed locations. Our simulations demonstrate that the joint model produced more precise estimates of disease occurrence and unbiased estimates of the association between disease presence and the count response relative to competing two-step approaches. Our statistical framework provides a solution that leverages disparate monitoring activities and informs species conservation across large landscapes. Stan code and documentation are provided to facilitate access and adaptation for other wildlife disease applications.

Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmen↗
USGS1977

Cell dimensions and antiferromagnetism of lunar and terrestrial ilmenite single crystals

X-Ray diffraction and anisotropic magnetic measurements have been made on single crystals of lunar ilmenite and on terrestrial ilmenite from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada and the Ilmen Mountains, U.S.S.R. The elongated c "> c -axis of lunar ilmenite, previously reported, is confirmed by new measurements. The shorter c "> c -axis found in terrestrial specimens is ascribed to Fe 3+ substitution for Ti 4+ in the titanium layer. Magnetic measurements on the same specimens show that, in agreement with the Ishikawa-Shirane et al . model, the initial shortening of the c "> c -axis by the above substitution of small amounts of Fe 3+ (<8%) causes an increase in Fe 2+ −Fe 2+ exchange coupling through Fe 3+ in the titanium layer that lowers the Néel transition temperature. The Weiss temperatures and other magnetic parameters confirm this model proposed by Ishikawa and Shirane et al . Additional transitions found in one of the terrestrial specimens (Bancroft) have been ascribed to a small amount of an exsolved spinel phase, possibly a solid solution phase of magnetite-ülvospinel. The spinel phase is localized in hematite-rich blebs which exsolved from the host ilmenite-rich phase.

Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids↗