Geology topics

F. H. Ruggles

Publications and source records attributed to F. H. Ruggles.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2014

Radiotracer experiments in the Mohawk River, New York, to study sewage path and dilution

Sewage from the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory near Schenectady, N. Y., was dosed with 4.53 curies of P prior to discharge into the Mohawk River. Its pattern of diffusion was measured in the river with immersible GM‐tubes and by sampling. The initial path of sewage was strongly influenced by differences in density between sewage and river due to temperature. During warm months relatively cold sewage moved on the river bottom perpendicularly to river current. For at least the first 800 ft of travel the maximum sewage concentration decreased logarithmically with distance from outfall. The term ‘half‐distance’ (here about 110 ft) is proposed to describe the concentration change. During cold months sewage rose to the river surface and at times was moved upstream by wind. However, when the river temperature was near freezing, the sewage first rose and then sank as the temperature of the sewage‐river mixture approached 39° F.

New York↗

USGS1973

Mapping of the 1973 Mississippi River floods from the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS)

On March 31, and May 4 and 5, 1973, the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) obtained multispectral scanner imagery over the Mississippi River below St. Louis, Missouri. The river was in flood, and the ERTS data provided the first opportunity for regional synoptic mapping of the extent of flooding at the time the imagery was obtained along a 1200 river-mile reach and some of its tributaries. The flood data were compared with imagery collected by ERTS on October 1 and 2, 1972, when the rivers were confined to their normal channels. The specially processed data were analyzed by additive-color techniques, and special enhancements were prepared to aid in interpretation of the data. The extent of flooding was delineated by additive-color, temporal composites of MSS band 7 infrared images. The temporal composites vividly depict, on a single scene, the flooded areas in relation to the normal channel. Color composites of the two near-infrared bands, which usually accentuate surface water, were enlarged to a scale of 1:250,000. Excellent registration was obtained between the image and transparencies of the 1:250,000 topographic maps used as overlays. The resulting image maps were then used as an interim product for preparation of maps showing the extent of flooding at the same scale.

Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee↗

USGS1967

Floods on White Rock Creek at Dallas, Texas in 1962 and 1964

This atlas presents data pertaining to the regimen of flooding along White Rock Creek and its tributaries, Spanky Branch, Floyd Branch, and Cottonwood Creek at Dallas, Texas. The map and flood data were prepared to aid those concerned with, and responsible for, the safe and yet extensive use of the floodplain along White Rock Creek and its tributaries. The flood map is shown in two parts—A, north half, and B, south half. The map shows areas inundated by the flood of September 21, 1964, along White Rock Creek and Spanky Branch and by the flood of October 8, 1962, along Cottonwood Creek and Floyd Branch. The flood of September 21, 1964, is known to be the greatest since at least 1886 on White Rock Creek upstream from the Texas and Pacific Railroad (mile 6.6). Downstream from the Texas and Pacific Railroad, White Rock Creek has been subject to inundation from backwater from the Trinity River. The greatest known flood on Trinity River occurred May 25, 1908. Because of extensive flood-control works built since 1908 in the upper Trinity River basin, the degree of flooding resulting from a storm of the magnitude of the 1908 catastrophe probably would be substantially different today. No backwater from Trinity River occurred during the flood of September 21, 1964. The greatest flood since at least 1892 on Cottonwood Creek and Floyd Branch occurred June 14, 1949. The storm of October 8, 1962, caused flood heights at Forest Lane to be comparable to those of June 14, 1949, on Cottonwood Creek and about 1 foot lower on Floyd Branch. The greatest flood since at least 1917 on Spanky Branch was that of September 21, 1964. Greater floods than those delineated are possible.

Texas↗