Laurence G Miller
I am scientist Emeritus with the Environmental Hydrodynamics Branch of the Earth Systems Process Division of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Our mission is to understand the processes that affect availability, movement, and quality of the Nation’s water resources. I’m currently engaged in studies of the fate of chromium in contaminated groundwater, the ecology and geochemistry of Mono Lake, CA, and the role of bacteria in transforming hydrocarbons in the subsurface.
Professional Studies/Experience
- May 1984 to Present: Research Oceanographer, National Research Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
- Sept. 1981 to May 1984: Oceanographer III, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Jan. 1977 to Sept. 1981: Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- April 1973 to Dec. 1976: Research Technician, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY
Education and Certifications
Education
1972 B.A., Marine Science, Southampton College, Long Island University
1980 M.S., Geological Science, University of Southern California
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 55
In situ bacterial selenate reduction in the agricultural drainage systems of western Nevada
Dissimilatory in situ selenate reduction to elemental selenium in sediments from irrigated agricultural drainage regions of western Nevada was measured at ambient Se oxyanion concentrations. Selenate reduction was rapid, with turnover rate constants ranging from 0.04 to 1.8 h-1 at total Se concentrations in pore water of 13 to 455 nM. Estimates of removal rates of selenium oxyanions were 14, 38, a
Authors
R.S. Oremland, N.A. Steinberg, T. S. Presser, L.G. Miller
Measurement of in situ rates of selenate removal by dissimilatory bacterial reduction in sediments
A radioisotope method for measurement of bacteria respiratory reduction of selenate to elemental selenium in aquatic sediments was devised. Sediments were labeled with [75Se]selenate, incubated, and washed, and 75Se0(s) was determined as counts remaining in the sediments. Core profiles of selenate reduction, sulfate reduction, and denitrification were made simultaneously in the sediments of an agr
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, Nisan A. Steinberg, Ann S. Maest, Laurence G. Miller, James T. Hollibaugh
Selenate reduction to elemental selenium by anaerobic bacteria in sediments and culture: Biogeochemical significance of a novel, sulfate-independent respiration
Interstitial water profiles of SeO42−, SeO32−, SO42−, and Cl− in anoxic sediments indicated removal of the seleno-oxyanions by a near-surface process unrelated to sulfate reduction. In sediment slurry experiments, a complete reductive removal of SeO42− occurred under anaerobic conditions, was more rapid with H2 or acetate, and was inhibited by O2, NO3−, MnO2, or autoclaving but not by SO42− or FeO
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, James T. Hollibaugh, Ann S. Maest, Theresa S. Presser, Laurence G. Miller, Charles W. Culbertson
Sources and flux of natural gases from Mono Lake, California
The ability to identify a formation mechanism for natural gas in a particular environment requires consideration of several geochemical factors when there are multiple sources present. Four primary sources of methane have been identified in Mono Lake. Two of these sources were associated with numerous natural gas seeps which occur at various locations in the lake and extend beyond its present boun
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, L.G. Miller, Michael J. Whiticar
Measurement of nitrous oxide reductase activity in aquatic sediments
Denitrification in aquatic sediments was measured by an N2O reductase assay. Sediments consumed small added quantities of N2O over short periods (a few hours). In experiments with sediment slurries, N2O reductase activity was inhibited by O2, C2H2, heat treatment, and by high levels of nitrate (1 mM) or sulfide (10 mM). However, ambient levels of nitrate (<100 μM) did not influence activity, and m
Authors
L.G. Miller, Ronald S. Oremland, S. Paulsen
Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen
Addition of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), or methane thiol (MSH) to a diversity of anoxic aquatic sediments (e.g., fresh water, estuarine, alkaline/hypersaline) stimulated methane production. The yield of methane recovered from DMS was often 52 to 63%, although high concentrations of DMS (as well as MSH and DMDS) inhibited methanogenesis in some types of sediments. Production o
Authors
R.P. Kiene, Ronald S. Oremland, Anthony Catena, Laurence G. Miller, D.G. Capone
Benthic fluxes in San Francisco Bay
Measurements of benthic fluxes have been made on four occasions between February 1980 and February 1981 at a channel station and a shoal station in South San Francisco Bay, using in situ flux chambers. On each occasion replicate measurements of easily measured substances such as radon, oxygen, ammonia, and silica showed a variability (??1??) of 30% or more over distances of a few meters to tens of
Authors
Douglas E. Hammond, C. Fuller, D. Harmon, Blayne Hartman, M. Korosec, L.G. Miller, R. Rea, S. Warren, W. Berelson, S.W. Hager
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 55
In situ bacterial selenate reduction in the agricultural drainage systems of western Nevada
Dissimilatory in situ selenate reduction to elemental selenium in sediments from irrigated agricultural drainage regions of western Nevada was measured at ambient Se oxyanion concentrations. Selenate reduction was rapid, with turnover rate constants ranging from 0.04 to 1.8 h-1 at total Se concentrations in pore water of 13 to 455 nM. Estimates of removal rates of selenium oxyanions were 14, 38, a
Authors
R.S. Oremland, N.A. Steinberg, T. S. Presser, L.G. Miller
Measurement of in situ rates of selenate removal by dissimilatory bacterial reduction in sediments
A radioisotope method for measurement of bacteria respiratory reduction of selenate to elemental selenium in aquatic sediments was devised. Sediments were labeled with [75Se]selenate, incubated, and washed, and 75Se0(s) was determined as counts remaining in the sediments. Core profiles of selenate reduction, sulfate reduction, and denitrification were made simultaneously in the sediments of an agr
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, Nisan A. Steinberg, Ann S. Maest, Laurence G. Miller, James T. Hollibaugh
Selenate reduction to elemental selenium by anaerobic bacteria in sediments and culture: Biogeochemical significance of a novel, sulfate-independent respiration
Interstitial water profiles of SeO42−, SeO32−, SO42−, and Cl− in anoxic sediments indicated removal of the seleno-oxyanions by a near-surface process unrelated to sulfate reduction. In sediment slurry experiments, a complete reductive removal of SeO42− occurred under anaerobic conditions, was more rapid with H2 or acetate, and was inhibited by O2, NO3−, MnO2, or autoclaving but not by SO42− or FeO
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, James T. Hollibaugh, Ann S. Maest, Theresa S. Presser, Laurence G. Miller, Charles W. Culbertson
Sources and flux of natural gases from Mono Lake, California
The ability to identify a formation mechanism for natural gas in a particular environment requires consideration of several geochemical factors when there are multiple sources present. Four primary sources of methane have been identified in Mono Lake. Two of these sources were associated with numerous natural gas seeps which occur at various locations in the lake and extend beyond its present boun
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, L.G. Miller, Michael J. Whiticar
Measurement of nitrous oxide reductase activity in aquatic sediments
Denitrification in aquatic sediments was measured by an N2O reductase assay. Sediments consumed small added quantities of N2O over short periods (a few hours). In experiments with sediment slurries, N2O reductase activity was inhibited by O2, C2H2, heat treatment, and by high levels of nitrate (1 mM) or sulfide (10 mM). However, ambient levels of nitrate (<100 μM) did not influence activity, and m
Authors
L.G. Miller, Ronald S. Oremland, S. Paulsen
Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen
Addition of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), or methane thiol (MSH) to a diversity of anoxic aquatic sediments (e.g., fresh water, estuarine, alkaline/hypersaline) stimulated methane production. The yield of methane recovered from DMS was often 52 to 63%, although high concentrations of DMS (as well as MSH and DMDS) inhibited methanogenesis in some types of sediments. Production o
Authors
R.P. Kiene, Ronald S. Oremland, Anthony Catena, Laurence G. Miller, D.G. Capone
Benthic fluxes in San Francisco Bay
Measurements of benthic fluxes have been made on four occasions between February 1980 and February 1981 at a channel station and a shoal station in South San Francisco Bay, using in situ flux chambers. On each occasion replicate measurements of easily measured substances such as radon, oxygen, ammonia, and silica showed a variability (??1??) of 30% or more over distances of a few meters to tens of
Authors
Douglas E. Hammond, C. Fuller, D. Harmon, Blayne Hartman, M. Korosec, L.G. Miller, R. Rea, S. Warren, W. Berelson, S.W. Hager