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Hydrologic and geologic aspects of waste management and disposal; a bibliography of publications by U.S. Geological Survey authors, 1950-81

References to more than 550 reports, articles, and maps are listed alphabetically by author and are indexed by subject. The subject index includes geographic-area terms. Citations from 69 series are included; series are listed separately. The publications listed report the results of U.S. Geological Survey research and field projects throughout the Nation concerning earth-science aspects of waste management and disposal. They include organic, inorganic, and radioactive wastes and related topics such as mathematical models of solute transport. Most of the references are to (1) Geological Survey report series such as Water-Supply Papers, Professional Papers, Bulletins, Circulars, Water-Resources Investigations, and Open-File Reports, (2) technical journals of professional organizations, or (3) reports by other Federal and State agencies.

Circular↗

EAARL coastal topography-western Florida, post-Hurricane Charley, 2004: seamless (bare earth and submerged.

Project Description These remotely sensed, geographically referenced elevation measurements of lidar-derived seamless (bare-earth and submerged) topography were produced as a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP), St. Petersburg, FL, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Wallops Flight Facility, VA. This project provides highly detailed and accurate datasets of a portion of the western Florida coastline beachface, acquired post-Hurricane Charley on August 17 and 18, 2004. The datasets are made available for use as a management tool to research scientists and natural-resource managers. An innovative airborne lidar instrument originally developed at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, and known as the Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL), was used during data acquisition. The EAARL system is a raster-scanning, waveform-resolving, green-wavelength (532-nanometer) lidar designed to map near-shore bathymetry, topography, and vegetation structure simultaneously. The EAARL sensor suite includes the raster-scanning, water-penetrating full-waveform adaptive lidar, a down-looking red-green-blue (RGB) digital camera, a high-resolution multispectral color infrared (CIR) camera, two precision dual-frequency kinematic carrier-phase GPS receivers, and an integrated miniature digital inertial measurement unit, which provide for sub-meter georeferencing of each laser sample. The nominal EAARL platform is a twin-engine Cessna 310 aircraft, but the instrument may be deployed on a range of light aircraft. A single pilot, a lidar operator, and a data analyst constitute the crew for most survey operations. This sensor has the potential to make significant contributions in measuring sub-aerial and submarine coastal topography within cross-environmental surveys. Elevation measurements were collected over the survey area using the EAARL system, and the resulting data were then processed using the Airborne Lidar Processing System (ALPS), a custom-built processing system developed in a NASA-USGS collaboration. ALPS supports the exploration and processing of lidar data in an interactive or batch mode. Modules for presurvey flight-line definition, flight-path plotting, lidar raster and waveform investigation, and digital camera image playback have been developed. Processing algorithms have been developed to extract the range to the first and last significant return within each waveform. ALPS is used routinely to create maps that represent submerged or sub-aerial topography. Specialized filtering algorithms have been implemented to determine the 'bare earth' under vegetation. For more information about similar projects, please visit the Decision Support for Coastal Science and Management website. Selected References Brock, J.C., Wright, C.W., Sallenger, A.H., Krabill, W.B., and Swift, R.N., 2002, Basis and methods of NASA airborne topographic mapper Lidar surveys for coastal studies: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 18, no. 1, p. 1-13. Crane, Michael, Clayton, Tonya, Raabe, Ellen, Stoker, Jason, Handley, Larry, Bawden, Gerald, Morgan, Karen, and Queija, Vivian, 2004, Report of the U.S. Geological Survey Lidar workshop sponsored by the Land Remote Sensing Program and held in St. Petersburg, FL, November 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1456, 72 p. Nayegandhi, Amar, Brock, J.C., and Wright, C.W., 2009, Small-footprint, waveform-resolving Lidar estimation of submerged and sub-canopy topography in coastal environments: International Journal of Remote Sensing, v. 30, no. 4, p. 861-878. Sallenger, A.H., Wright, C.W., and Lillycrop, Jeff, 2005, Coastal impacts of the 2004 hurricanes measured with airborne Lidar; initial results: Shore and Beach, v. 73, nos. 2-3, p. 10-14. Resources Included Readme.txt File

Data Series↗

Stability relations of the ferruginous biotite, annite

Annite , KFe 3 AISi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 a member of the iron biotites and the ferrous analogue of phlogopite, has been synthesized and its phase relations have been determined as functions of temperature, fugacity of oxygen (fo 2 ), and total pressure (P total ≈PH 2 O+PH 2 ). A method for controlling fo 2 at high total pressures is described, and data for the 'oxygen buffers' used are given. Buffers range from quartz+iron+fayalite assemblages (low fo 2 ) to magnetite-hematite assemblages (high fo 2 ). Optical properties and unit-cell dimensions of synthetic annites depend on the conditions of synthesis.By recalculating published analyses of natural iron-rich biotites it can be shown that one cannot assume a constant hydrogen content for such biotites. Oxidation may have occurred by drying at 115°C. Octahedral occupancy therefore cannot be calculated from such data.Phase relations of annite are presented in 2,070 and 1,035 bar sections. Depending on fo 2 -T values annite was found to decompose to one of the following assemblages: hematite+ sanidine, magnetite+sanidine, fayalite+leucite+kalsilite, iron+sanidine. All decompositions are dehydration and redox reactions and are sensitive to changes in fH 2 0 and fo 2 (or fH 2 0 and fH 2 ). At 2, 070 bars total pressure annite +magnetite+sanidine can coexist between 425°C and 825° C, depending upon the magnitude of fo 2 .In the presence of quartz the stability field of annite is more restricted. Phase equilibria in the system KAlSiO 4 -SiO 2 -Fe-O 2 -H 2 have been summarized schematically.Wherever possible, thermodynamic extrapolations are made to test the internal consistency of the data. Enthalpies of formation are calculated for both annite and phlogopite. Ranges of fo 2 values in nature as well as mechanisms for changes in fo 2 are investigated. It is useful to distinguish between assemblages which are internally buffered with respect to fo 2 changes and those which are not buffered. The applications of individual reactions involving annite to specific geologic problems are discussed with respect to igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

Journal of Petrology↗

Gas emissions from the Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine hydrothermal system, Clear Lake volcanic field, California

The Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine (SBMM) hydrothermal system offers insights into active degassing processes in the Clear Lake volcanic field (CLVF), a high-threat region based on its record of Holocene eruptions and proximity to populated areas. Here we present chemical and isotopic analyses of gas samples collected between 2015 and 2023, along with the first comprehensive CO 2 flux survey of the SBMM area conducted in 2023. Sampled gases are CO 2 - and CH 4 -rich (≥84 and 6 mol% in dry gas, respectively) with high mantle-derived helium contributions ( 3 He/ 4 He = 6.54–7.86 R C /R A ). Carbon isotopic compositions of CO 2 (δ 13 C = −10.0 to −9.5 ‰) and CH 4 (δ 13 C = −35.8 ‰) indicate mixed sources, with significant contributions from metamorphism of organic-rich Franciscan Complex rocks hosting the hydrothermal system. Modeling of gas compositions shows that scrubbing by interaction with air-saturated groundwater strongly influences observed compositional variability. From our CO₂ flux measurements, we estimate the deeply derived CO 2 emission rate from the SBMM hydrothermal area (0.2 km 2 ) at 240 t d −1 , comparable to many quiescently degassing volcanoes worldwide. We also provide a first-order estimate of CH 4 emissions at approximately 0.5 t d −1 . Our findings establish crucial baseline data for future volcanic monitoring efforts, enhancing detection capabilities for potential changes in this active hydrothermal system. This work contributes to the broader understanding of volatile contributions from volcanic and metamorphic sources to the global carbon budget, while highlighting the strong influence of bedrock geology on gas compositions in the CLVF.

California↗

Implications of a magnetic model of the Long Valley caldera, California

A quantitative magnetic model of Long Valley, California, shows that the magnetic field above this caldera is dominated by intracaldera Bishop tuff, part of the ash flow tuff whose eruption precipitated the caldera collapse. We propose that about half of the 350 km 3 of intracaldera Bishop tuff, or that part beneath the resurgent dome, has been subjected to extensive hydrothermal alteration. The heat that produced this alteration is apparently associated with the residual magma chamber, and much of the formation may still be hot (>200°C). The magnetic minerals in the remaining intracaldera Bishop tuff have not been drastically altered, presumably because the tuff was not heated sufficiently. As a result, the tuff may not be very hot today. The model also reveals the existence of parts of two large precaldera mountains beneath the caldera fill. The resolving power attained in this investigation was possible because we were dealing with large, magnetically distinct lithologic units and a large amount of geological and geophysical data were available constraints to produce the solution.

California↗

Developing an operational rangeland water requirement satisfaction index

Developing an operational water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI) for rangeland monitoring is an important goal of the famine early warning systems network. An operational WRSI has been developed for crop monitoring, but until recently a comparable WRSI for rangeland was not successful because of the extremely poor performance of the index when based on published crop coefficients ( K c ) for rangelands. To improve the rangeland WRSI, we developed a simple calibration technique that adjusts the K c values for rangeland monitoring using long-term rainfall distribution and reference evapotranspiration data. The premise for adjusting the K c values is based on the assumption that a viable rangeland should exhibit above-average WRSI (values >80%) during a normal year. The normal year was represented by a median dekadal rainfall distribution (satellite rainfall estimate from 1996 to 2006). Similarly, a long-term average for potential evapotranspiration was used as input to the famine early warning systems network WRSI model in combination with soil-water-holding capacity data. A dekadal rangeland WRSI has been operational for east and west Africa since 2005. User feedback has been encouraging, especially with regard to the end-of-season WRSI anomaly products that compare the index's performance to ‘normal’ years. Currently, rangeland WRSI products are generated on a dekadal basis and posted for free distribution on the US Geological Survey early warning website at http://earlywarning.usgs.gov/adds/

International Journal of Remote Sensing↗

Photogrammetry of the deep seafloor from archived unmanned submersible exploration dives

Large amounts of video images have been collected for decades by scientific and governmental organizations in deep (>1000 m) water using manned and unmanned submersibles and towed cameras. The collected images were analyzed individually or were mosaiced in small areas with great effort. Here, we provide a workflow for utilizing modern photogrammetry to construct virtual geological outcrops hundreds or thousands of meters in length from these archived video images. The photogrammetry further allows quantitative measurements of these outcrops, which were previously unavailable. Although photogrammetry had been carried out in recent years in the deep sea, it had been limited to small areas with pre-defined overlapping dive paths. Here, we propose a workflow for constructing virtual outcrops from archived exploration dives, which addresses the complicating factors posed by single non-linear and variable-speed vehicle paths. These factors include poor navigation, variable lighting, differential color attenuation due to variable distance from the seafloor, and variable camera orientation with respect to the vehicle. In particular, the lack of accurate navigation necessitates reliance on image quality and the establishment of pseudo-ground-control points to build the photogrammetry model. Our workflow offers an inexpensive method for analyzing deep-sea geological environments from existing video images, particularly when coupled with rock samples.

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering↗

Integrated analysis shows how the effects of extreme flooding events propagate through fish communities to impact amphibians

Research Highlight: Davis, C. L., Walls, S. C., Barichivich, W. J., Brown, M. E., & Miller, D. A. (2022). Disentangling direct and indirect effects of extreme events on coastal wetland communities. Journal of Animal Ecology , https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13874 . Catastrophic events such as floods, hurricanes, winter storms, droughts and wildfires increasingly touch our lives either directly or indirectly. These events draw our attention to the seriousness of changes in climate not only to human well-being but also to the integrity of ecological systems upon which we depend. Understanding the impacts of extreme events on ecological systems requires the ability to characterize the cascading effects of environmental changes on the environments in which organisms live and the altered biological interactions produced. This scientific ambition represents no small challenge for the study of animal communities, which are typically difficult to census as well as dynamic in time and space. Davis et al. (2022) in a recent study in the Journal of Animal Ecology examined the amphibian and fish communities found in depressional coastal wetlands to better understand how they respond to major rainfall and flooding events. Data from the U.S. Geological Survey's Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative provided an 8-year record of observations as well as environmental measurements. For this study, the authors integrated techniques for assessing the dynamics of animal populations with a Bayesian implementation of structural equation modelling. Using their integrated methodological approach permitted the authors to reveal the direct and indirect effects of extreme weather events on co-occurring amphibian and fish communities while accounting for observational uncertainty and temporal variation in population-level processes. Their findings indicate that the most prominent effects of flooding on the amphibian community were caused by changes in the fish community that led to increased predation and resource competition. In their conclusions, the authors emphasize the importance of understanding networks of abiotic and biotic effects if we are to predict and mitigate the influence of extreme weather events.

Journal of Animal Ecology↗

Foreword: function, classification and management of Asian wetlands

Asian wetland conservation is critical for future environmental protection in the region, but these wetlands are understudied. In particular, there is a lack of research studies published in English due to the limited access of Asian researchers to western scientific journals. This special feature of Wetlands showcases primary research conducted in Asian wetlands and was sponsored by various agencies of the U.S. and Chinese governments including the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of State, and The State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China. The featured articles should be of great value to wetland scientists, managers and policy-makers with an interest in the conservation of Asian wetlands.

Wetlands↗

Micromorphology and stable-isotope geochemistry of historical pedogenic siderite formed in PAH-contaminated alluvial clay soils, Tennessee, U.S.A

Alluvial clay soil samples from six boreholes advanced to depths of 400-450 cm (top of limestone bedrock) from the Chattanooga Coke Plant (CCP) site were examined micromorphologically and geochemically in order to determine if pedogenic siderite (FeCO3) was present and whether siderite occurrence was related to organic contaminant distribution. Samples from shallow depths were generally more heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than those at greater depth. The upper 1 m in most boreholes consisted of mixtures of anthropogenically remolded clay soil fill containing coal clinker, cinder grains, and limestone gravel; most layers of coarse fill were impregnated with creosote and coal tar. Most undisturbed soil (below 1 m depth) consisted of highly structured clays exhibiting fine subangular blocky ped structures, as well as redox-related features. Pedogenic siderite was abundant in the upper 2 m of most cores and in demonstrably historical (< 100 years old) soil matrices. Two morphologies were identified: (1) sphaerosiderite crystal spherulites ranging from 10 to 200 um in diameter, and (2) coccoid siderite comprising grape-like "clusters" of crystals 5-20 ??n in diameter. The siderite, formed in both macropores and within fine-grained clay matrices, indicates development of localized anaerobic, low-Eh conditions, possibly due to microbial degradation of organic contaminants. Stable-isotope compositions of the siderite have ??13C values spanning over 25%o (+7 to - 18%o VPDB) indicating fractionation of DIC by multiple microbial metabolic pathways, but with relatively constant ??18O values from (-4.8 ?? 0.66%o VPDB) defining a meteoric sphaerosiderite line (MSL). Calculated isotope equilibrium water ??18O values from pedogenic siderites at the CCP site are from 1 to 5 per mil lighter than the groundwater ??18O values that we estimate for the site. If confirmed by field studies in progress, this observation might call for a reevaluation of low-temperature siderite-water 18O fractionations. Investigations at the CCP site thus provide valuable information on the geochemical conditions under which siderite can form in modern soils, and thus insight on controls on siderite formation in ancient soils. Copyright ?? 2010, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology).

Journal of Sedimentary Research↗

Validity of using semipermeable membrane devices for determining aqueous concentrations of freely dissolved PAHs

An in-depth review of the recent contribution to this journal by Gustafson and Dickhut [1] prompts us to share our concerns regarding some of their conclusions. The paper presents data comparing three techniques for determining aqueous concentrations of freely dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) gas sparging, lipid-containing semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) design, and filtration followed by sorption using XAD-2 resin. Space limitations force us to limit our comments to problems resulting from an apparent lack of understanding of how SPMDs function. Several recent publications [2–13] have described the theoretical and practical considerations of SPMD usage. Gustafson and Dickhut fail to cite any papers describing SPMDs published after 1992, even though some 18 papers have been published in American and European journals since then and several SPMD studies have been presented at many major meetings.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry↗

Uranium-series isochron dating at El Castillo Cave (Cantabria, Spain): The "Acheulean"/"Mousterian" question

A massive flowstone layer, Level 23, near the base of the stratigraphic sequence in El Castillo Cave (Cantabria, Spain), is dated by the uranium-series isochron method to 89+11/−10 ka bp. The flowstone separates cultural layers traditionally labelled “Mousterian” (above) and “Acheulean” (below). The date reported here, in association with other recent age determinations for “Mousterian” and “Acheulean” artifact assemblages in Western Europe, calls into question the temporal significance of these archaeological designations. In addition, it further underlies the importance of the Castillo cultural sequence and allows tentative discussion of changing rates of sedimentation in the vestibule of the cave, where some 18 m of cultural and geological deposits were laid down during the course of the Upper Pleistocene.

Journal of Archaeological Science↗

Neoproterozoic–Cambrian stratigraphic framework of the Anti-Atlas and Ouzellagh promontory (High Atlas), Morocco

In the last two decades, great progress has been made in the geochronological, chrono- and chemostratigraphic control of the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian from the Anti-Atlas Ranges and the Ouzellagh promontory (High Atlas). As a result, the Neoproterozoic is lithostratigraphically subdivided into: (i) the Lkest-Taghdout Group (broadly interpreted at c. 800–690 Ma) representative of rift-to-passive margin conditions on the northern West African craton; (ii) the Iriri (c. 760–740 Ma), Bou Azzer (c. 762–697 Ma) and Saghro (c. 760?–610 Ma) groups, the overlying Anezi, Bou Salda, Dadès and Tiddiline formations localized in fault-grabens, and the Ouarzazate Supergroup (c. 615–548 Ma), which form a succession of volcanosedimentary complexes recording the onset of the Pan-African orogeny and its aftermath; and (iii) the Taroudant (the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary lying in the Tifnout Member of the Adoudou Formation), Tata, Feijas Internes and Tabanite groups that have recorded development of the late Ediacaran–Cambrian Atlas Rift. Recent discussions of Moroccan strata to select new global GSSPs by the International Subcommissions on Ediacaran and Cambrian Stratigraphy have raised the stratigraphic interest in this region. A revised and updated stratigraphic framework is proposed here to assist the tasks of both subcommissions and to fuel future discussions focused on different geological aspects of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian time span.

Journal of African Earth Sciences↗

Solubility measurements in the system CaSO4-NaCL-H2O at 35°, 50°, and 70°cand one atmosphere pressure

The solubilities in the system CaSO 4 - NaCl -H 2 O, at 1 atm pressure and 35° , 50° , and 70°C, have been determined by approaching the solubility curves from both the undersaturation and supersaturation sides. The experimental runs are of long duration, as much as 3 months; these rates should be commensurate with those of the appropriate geological processes, and so the results should be directly applicable to the interpretation of evaporite deposits.

Journal of Petrology↗

Lithology-derived structure classification from the joint interpretation of magnetotelluric and seismic models

Magnetotelluric and seismic methods provide complementary information about the resistivity and velocity structure of the subsurface on similar scales and resolutions. No global relation, however, exists between these parameters, and correlations are often valid for only a limited target area. Independently derived inverse models from these methods can be combined using a classification approach to map geologic structure. The method employed is based solely on the statistical correlation of physical properties in a joint parameter space and is independent of theoretical or empirical relations linking electrical and seismic parameters. Regions of high correlation (classes) between resistivity and velocity can in turn be mapped back and re-examined in depth section. The spatial distribution of these classes, and the boundaries between them, provide structural information not evident in the individual models. This method is applied to a 10 km long profile crossing the Dead Sea Transform in Jordan. Several prominent classes are identified with specific lithologies in accordance with local geology. An abrupt change in lithology across the fault, together with vertical uplift of the basement suggest the fault is sub-vertical within the upper crust. ?? 2007 The Authors Journal compilation ?? 2007 RAS.

Geophysical Journal International↗

Correlation of aptian-albian carbon isotope excursions in continental strata of the cretaceous Foreland Basin, Eastern Utah, U.S.A.

Nodular carbonates ("calcretes") in continental foreland-basin strata of the Early Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation (CMF) in eastern Utah yield ??13C and ??O records of changes in the exogenic carbon cycle related to oceanic anoxic events (OAEs), and terrestrial paleoclimate. Chemostratigraphic profiles of both forebulge and foredeep sections show two prominent positive ??13C excursions, each with a peak value of -3% VPDB, and having background ??13C values of about -6% VPDB. These excursions correlate with the global early Aptian (Ap7) and late Aptian-early Albian (Apl2-All) carbon isotope excursions. Aptian-Albian positive ??13C excursions in the CMF also correspond to 3-4 per mil increases in carbonate ??18O. These phenomena record local aridification events. The chemostratigraphic profile on the thinner forebulge section of the CMF is calibrated, for the first time, by a radiogenic U-Pb date of 119.4 ?? 2.6 Ma on a carbonate bed, and by detrital zircon U-Pb dates on two bounding sandstone units (maximum depositional ages of 146 Ma and 112 Ma). P??trographie observations and diagenetic analyses of micritic to microsparitic carbonates from nodules indicate palustrine origins and demonstrate that they crystallized in shallow early meteoric phreatic environments. Meteoric calcite lines derived from CMF carbonates have ??18O values ranging between -8.1 to -7.5%o VPDB, supporting an estimate of zonal mean groundwater ??18O of -6% VSMOW for an Aptian-Albian paleolatitude of 34?? N. Furthermore, our two chemostratigraphic profiles exhibit a generally proportionate thinning of correlative strata from the foredeep on to the forebulge, suggesting that there were consistently lower rates of accumulation on the forebulge during the Aptian-Albian. Identification of the global Aptian-Albian ??13C excursions in purely continental strata, as demonstrated in this paper, opens a new avenue of research by identifying specific stratigraphie intervals that record the terrestrial paleoclimatic impacts of perturbations of the global carbon cycle. Copyright ?? 2010, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology).

Journal of Sedimentary Research↗