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Publications

Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 3746

Physical and chemical characteristics of Knowles, Forgotten, and Moqui Canyons, and effects of recreational use on water quality, Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah

Side canyons of Lake Powell are the most popular recreation areas of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona and Utah. There are more than 90 side canyons that are tributaries to the main lake body of Lake Powell. Near Bullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas in Utah, visitors frequent Knowles, Forgotten, and Moqui Canyons to fish, boat, camp, and hike the sandstone formations for which Lak
Authors
Robert J. Hart, Howard E. Taylor, Ronald C. Antweiler, Greg G. Fisk, G.M. Anderson, D.A. Roth, Marilyn E. Flynn, D.B. Peart, Margot Truini, L. B. Barber

Arsenic, microbes and contaminated aquifers

The health of tens of millions of people world-wide is at risk from drinking arsenic-contaminated well water. In most cases this arsenic occurs naturally within the sub-surface aquifers, rather than being derived from identifiable point sources of pollution. The mobilization of arsenic into the aqueous phase is the first crucial step in a process that eventually leads to human arsenicosis. Increas
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, John F. Stolz

Ground water to surface water: Chemistry of thermal outflows in Yellowstone National Park

Geothermal waters in the earth’s subsurface boil with steam separation and may mix with dilute ground waters (that may or may not contain sulfuric acid from sulfur oxidation), resulting in a wide range of compositions when they discharge and emerge at the surface. As they discharge onto the ground surface they undergo evaporative cooling, degassing, oxidation, and mineral precipitation. Within thi
Authors
D. Kirk Nordstrom, James W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskey

Unsaturated zone flow processes

Water flow in the unsaturated zone is greatly influenced by unsaturated hydrostatics (water content, energy, pressure, and retention) and by unsaturated hydrodynamics (diffuse flow and preferential flow). Important multiphase processes include the transport of gases, nonaqueous liquids, and solid particles. Numerous means are available for determination of unsaturated conditions and properties, bo
Authors
John R. Nimmo

Geothermal systems

No abstract available. 
Authors
Yousif K. Kharaka, Robert H. Mariner

Aquifer recharge

No abstract available. 
Authors
John R. Nimmo, Richard W. Healy, David A. Stonestrom

Genus sulfurospirillum

No abstract available.
Authors
J.F. Stolz, Ronald S. Oremland, B.J. Paster, F.E. Dewhirst, P. Vandamme

Climate patterns as predictors of amphibians species richness and indicators of potential stress

Amphibians occupy a range of habitats throughout the world, but species richness is greatest in regions with moist, warm climates. We modeled the statistical relations of anuran and urodele species richness with mean annual climate for the conterminous United States, and compared the strength of these relations at national and regional levels. Model variables were calculated for county and subcoun
Authors
W. Battaglin, L. Hay, G. McCabe, P. Nanjappa, Alisa L. Gallant

Stream salamander species richness and abundance in relation to environmental factors in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Stream salamanders are sensitive to acid mine drainage and may be sensitive to acidification and low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) of a watershed. Streams in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, are subject to episodic acidification from precipitation events. We surveyed 25 m by 2 m transects located on the stream bank adjacent to the water channel in Shenandoah National Park for salamanders usi
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Robin E. Jung, Karen C. Rice

Amphibian research and monitoring initiative: Concepts and implementation

This report provides the basis for discussion and subsequent articulation of a national plan for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). The authors were members of a task force formed from within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that included scientists with expertise in biology, cartography, hydrology, and statistics. The assignment of the task force was to extend work begun by
Authors
P. S. Corn, M.J. Adams, W.A. Battaglin, Alisa L. Gallant, D.L. James, M. Knutson, C.A. Langtimm, J.R. Sauer