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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
USGS1998

Critical evaluation and selection of standard state thermodynamic properties for chromium metal and its aqueous ions, hydrolysis species, oxides, and hydroxides

This review critically evaluates the reported thermodynamic data on chromium metal, oxides, hydroxides, free aqueous ions, and hydrolysis species. Several discrepancies and inconsistencies have been uncovered and resolved to improve equilibrium calculations for chemical modeling and related engineering purposes. A revised set of data is derived from evaluation of electrochemical measurements, silver chromate solubility measurements, and auxiliary post-1980 data, reevaluation of earlier data, and reconsideration of the path for the thermodynamic network. The recommended thermodynamic values for Cr (cr) , C , C , Cr , Cr 2 , Cr 2 O 3(cr) , CrO 3(cr) , FeCr 2 O 4(cr) , CrCl 2(cr) , CrCl 3(cr) , and KFe 3 (CrO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6(cr) at 25 °C, 1 bar, and infinite dilution are given.

Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data↗
USGS1964

Anesthetic effect of 4-styrylpyridine on lamprey and fish

The anestheticp roperty of 4-styrylpyridine (4-SP) on fish and lamprey was first noticed during chemical screening search of a selective toxicant for larval lamprey (Applegate, Howell, Hall, and Smith, 1957). To assess the possible value of the compound as an anesthetic, we later conducted the experiments reviewed in this report.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1966

Stratified deposits of the oxides and carbonates of manganese

Compared with the stratified deposits of iron minerals, those of manganese minerals have received little attention until recent years. Before 1930, students of the stratified deposits of manganese minerals have generally concluded that the contained manganese was derived from the decomposition of the rocks that formed the borders of the basins. Only in a few places have geologists recognized that if these rocks were the principal source of the contained manganese the basins should contain also enormous quantities of iron minerals, whereas most of the large deposits of manganese contain little iron. Even though more than 100 years ago some geologists proposed that the iron contained in some deposits of stratified iron minerals was probably derived from hydrothermal waters related to centers of volcanism, not until about 1930 was this source of manganese in similar deposits seriously proposed. This mode of origin was given the name "volcanogene sedimentaire" by French geologists working in Morocco. Since then, other names, such as "exhalative sedimentaire," have been used by geologists working in several European districts. Because of the development of new techniques for the study of the chemical and physical features of the minerals, and because close attention to the lithologic environments of the beds is being given more and more during recent years, it has seemed advisable to review the features of stratified deposits of the manganese minerals in many parts of the world and over a wide range in age. This study indicates that at least three sources may have contributed the manganese in the large deposits of iron-free oxides and carbonates : (1) the rocks that form the borders of the basins, either marine or continental; (2) the nearby underlying sediments, largely of igneous origin, decomposed by warm waters largely derived from depth; and (3) waters of hydrothermal origin derived from great depths during epochs of volcanism from which iron minerals with little manganese are deposited in deep zones, then minerals with much iron and more manganese at intermediate depths, and, finally, manganese minerals with little iron near the surface. As the hot waters of many thermal springs contain more manganese than iron, such waters could yield the pure manganese oxides and carbonates found in stratified deposits . Several kinds of evidence indicate that most of the manganese in the large stratified deposits of the oxides and carbonates of manganese in many parts of the world has been derived from hydrothermal waters from depth related to centers of volcanism. Obviously, manganese derived from decay of the rocks on the lands adjacent to large basins-marine and continental -may have been added to that derived from centers of volcanism to form the sedimentary deposits found in the basins.

Economic Geology↗
USGS2014

Arsenic speciation in solids using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an in situ , minimally-destructive, element-specific, molecular-scale structural probe that has been employed to study the chemical forms (species) of arsenic (As) in solid and aqueous phases (including rocks, soils, sediment, synthetic compounds, and numerous types of biota including humans) for more than 20 years. Although several excellent reviews of As geochemistry and As speciation in the environment have been published previously (including recent contributions in this volume), the explosion of As-XAS studies over the past decade (especially studies employing microfocused X-ray beams) warrants this new review of the literature and of data analysis methods. This review has two main sections. The first is a presentation of methods for sample preparation and for the collection, processing and analysis of As-XAS spectra. Since several more comprehensive reviews of the X-ray absorption theory and data collection methodology exist, this section is brief and focused specifically on As. The second section is a critical review of the As-XAS literature, arranged by sample type and accompanied by summary tables (collected as appendices at the end of the chapter). One of the most important aims of this review is to clarify the different types of analysis that are performed on As-XAS spectra, and to describe the benefits, drawbacks, and limitations of each. Arsenic XAS spectra are analyzed to obtain one or more of the following types of information (in increasing order of sophistication):

Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry↗
USGS1997

Fate of Airborne Contaminants in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Designation of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as a Class I Air Quality Area (given the highest level of protection possible from air pollutants under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977) affords mandatory protection of the Refuge's airshed through the permit-review process for planned developments. Rainfall is the major source of water to the swamp, and potential impacts from developments to the airshed are high. To meet management needs for baseline information, chemical contributions from atmospheric deposition and partitioning of anions and cations, with emphasis on mercury and lead, in the various matrices of the Swamp were determined between July 1993 and April 1995. Chemistry of rainfall was determined on an event basis from one site located at Refuge Headquarters. Field samples of surface water, pore water, floc and sediment were collected from four locations on the Refuge: Chesser Prairie, Chase Prairie, Durden Prairie, and the Narrows. A sediment core sample was collected from the Refuge interior at Bluff Lake for aging of mercury deposition. Rainfall was acidic (pH 4.8) with sulfate concentrations averaging 1.2 mg/L and nitrate averaging 0.8 mg/L. Lead in rainfall averaged 1 ?g/L and total and methylmercury concentrations were 11.7 ng/L and 0.025 ng/L, respectively. The drought of 1993 followed by heavy rains during the fall and winter caused a temporary alteration in the cycling and availability of trace-elements within the different matrices of the Swamp. Surface water was acidic (pH 3.8 to 4.1), dilute (specific conductance 35-60 ?S/cm), and highly organic (DOC 35-50 mg/L). Sediment and floc were also highly organic (>90%). Total mercury averaged 3.6 ng/L in surface water, 9.0 ng/L in pore water and about 170 ng/g in floc and sediments. Mercury bioaccumulated in the biota of the Refuge: fish fillets (Centrarchus macropterus, Esox niger, Lepomus gulosus and Amia calva) had >2 ?g/g dry weight, alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) >4 ?g/g dry weight in liver and kidney, and raccoons (Procyon lotor) >16 ?g/g dry weight in the liver and kidney. Lead averaged 1 ?g/L in rainfall, 6.6 ?g/L in surface water, 9.8 ?g/L in pore water, 12.3 ?g/g in floc and 12.5 ?g/g in sediments. Lead in fish muscle was ~0.1 ?g/g and >1.2 ?g/g in bone, alligator kidney had 1.5 ?g/g lead and liver had 3.8 ?g/g; raccoon kidney and liver averaged about 1 ?g/g. Historical patterns of mercury deposition based on 210Pb aging of the core sample showed mercury increased from pre-1800 concentrations of <250 ng/g to >500 ng/g in the 1950s, with a subsequent decline to current levels. Lead concentrations in the core sample followed a similar pattern as that of mercury. Okefenokee Swamp serves as a sump for the cations and anions deposited through rainfall. Although mercury and lead levels in the biota are not currently acutely hazardous, concentrations are high enough to cause adverse chronic effects on behavioral, physiological or reproductive functions of resident biota, especially piscivorous species. To protect trust resources associated with the Refuge, activities and developments in the airshed that have the potential to increase atmospheric contamination, especially for lead and mercury, should be curtailed.

Book↗
USGS1983

Eastern Devonian shales: Organic geochemical studies, past and present

The Eastern Devonian shales are represented by a sequence of sediments extending from New York state, south to the northern regions of Georgia and Alabama, and west into Ohio and to the Michigan and Ilinois Basins. Correlatives are known in Texas. The shale is regionally known by a number of names: Chattanooga, Dunkirk, Rhinestreet, Huron, Antrim, Ohio, Woodford, etc. These shales, other than those in Texas, have elicited much interest because they have been a source of unassociated natural gas. It is of particular interest, however, that most of these shales have no associated crude oil, in spite of the fact that they have some of the characteristics normally attributed to source beds. This paper addresses some of the organic geochemical aspects of the kerogen in these shales, in relation to their oil generating potential. Past organic geochemical studies on Eastern Devonian shales will be reviewed. Recent solid state 13C NMR studies on the nature of the organic matter in Eastern Devonian shales show that Eastern Devonian shales contain a larger fraction of aromatic carbon in their chemical composition. Thus, despite their high organic matter contents, their potential as a petroleum source rock is low, because the kerogen in these shales is of a "coaly" nature and hence more prone to producing natural gas.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2023

Ammonia and aquatic ecosystems – A review of global sources, biogeochemical cycling, and effects on fish

The purpose of this review is to better understand the full life cycle and influence of ammonia from an aquatic biology perspective. While ammonia has toxic properties in water and air, it also plays a central role in the biogeochemical nitrogen (N) cycle and regulates mechanisms of normal and abnormal fish physiology. Additionally, as the second most synthesized chemical on Earth, ammonia contributes economic value to many sectors, particularly fertilizers, energy storage, explosives, refrigerants, and plastics. But, with so many uses, industrial N 2 -fixation effectively doubles natural reactive N concentrations in the environment. The consequence is global, with excess fixed nitrogen driving degradation of soils, water, and air; intensifying eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and climate change; and creating health risks for humans, wildlife, and fisheries. Thus, the need for ammonia research in aquatic systems is growing. In response, we prepared this review to better understand the complexities and connectedness of environmental ammonia. Even the term “ammonia” has multiple meanings. So, we have clarified the nomenclature, identified units of measurement, and summarized methods to measure ammonia in water. We then discuss ammonia in the context of the N-cycle, review its role in fish physiology and mechanisms of toxicity, and integrate the effects of human N-fixation, which continuously expands ammonia's sources and uses. Ammonia is being developed as a carbon-free energy carrier with potential to increase reactive nitrogen in the environment. With this in mind, we review the global impacts of excess reactive nitrogen and consider the current monitoring and regulatory frameworks for ammonia. The presented synthesis illustrates the complex and interactive dynamics of ammonia as a plant nutrient, energy molecule, feedstock, waste product, contaminant, N-cycle participant, regulator of animal physiology, toxicant, and agent of environmental change. Few molecules are as influential as ammonia in the management and resilience of Earth's resources.

Science of the Total Environment↗
USGS2021

Electrical conductivity of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system

Electromagnetic geophysical methods image the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. Electrical conductivity is an intrinsic material property that is sensitive to temperature, composition, porosity, volatile and/or melt content, and other physical properties relevant to the solid Earth. Therefore, imaging the electrical structure of the crust and mantle yields valuable information on the physical and chemical state of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system. Here we explore the viability of the passive magnetotelluric (MT) method for constraining upper mantle properties. We approach this problem in four successive steps: 1) review the electrical conductivity behavior of relevant materials; 2) predict the bulk electrical conductivity structure of oceanic and continental lithosphere for a suite of representative physical states; 3) generate synthetic MT data from the conductivity predictions; 4) compare and discuss the conductivity predictions and the synthetic data with select case studies from oceanic and continental settings. Our aim is to clarify the uncertainties associated with drawing inferences from electrical conductivity observations and ultimately to provide a basis for assigning confidence levels to interpretations.

Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors↗
USGS2010

Rheology of the lithosphere

During the quadrennial term 1979–1982, major advances have been made in our knowledge of the rheology of the oceanic lithosphere by the skillful combination of experimental and theoretical rock mechanics, seismology and marine geophysics in increasingly sophisticated models for the flexure of the oceanic lithosphere at seamounts and island chains, along transform faults, and at subduction zones. The relative simplicity of plate bending geometry, thermal history, and mineralogical and chemical compositions of the oceanic plates in these settings make the geophysical observations very powerful constraints on the in situ rheology of the oceanic lithosphere. In the first part of this paper, I review the laboratory work on materials appropriate to the oceanic lithosphere with emphasis on contributions during the quadrennial period and the need for future work. The important results of flexure models incorporating realistic material properties are then summarized.

Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics↗
USGS1972

Annual water-resources review, White Sands Missile Range: 1971

This report presents water-resource information that was collected at White Sands Missile Range during 1971 and early 1972 by personnel of the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division. Data on ground-water pumpage and resulting water-level fluctuation, chemical quality, percipitation, and surface-water runoff are summarized in the report. The data were obtained as a result of the continuing water-resources basic-data collection program sponsored by the Facilities Engineering Directorate, White Sands Missile Range.

New Mexico↗
USGS2001

Wetland restoration in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America: A literature review

The landscape of the prairie pothole region (PPR), a grassland biome of the northern U.S. Great Plains and parts of Canada, has been greatly altered by land use since the 1800's. Conversion of grassland to cropland and drainage of wetlands has resulted in wetland losses of up to 90% in some areas. Besides the area providing critical habitat to various wildlife, breeding waterfowl, and migratory birds, its seasonal wetlands support diverse plant and invertebrate communities, play a role in flood attenuation, act as traps for nutrients. store and recharge groundwater. and are valued recreational lands. Most of the restoration of prairie potholes has only occurred since the 1980's, with few follow-up studies performed and little postrestoration monitoring of these restorations. Monitoring and research of wetland restoration in the PPR is less common relative to the number of postrestoration studies done on other wetland types in the United States. This report is a synthesis of current knowledge of restored prairie pothole wetlands and makes suggestions for future wetland restoration-related research. In order to determine the benefits of restored wetlands, it is important to better understand how closely restored wetlands in the PPR resemble their natural analogues in terms of functions and values. The report categorizes PPR literature into five general sections: wildlife, vegetation, invertebrates, fish, and physical and chemical characteristics of restored wetlands. Each of these five sections has a summary of research and is divided into two parts: an overview of research and findings and regional case studies. Most PPR studies have focused on bird and plant communities, whereas research done on the functions of restored wetlands and studies concerning less visible fauna and physical and chemical characteristics are scarce. In addition, there is a scarcity of research in the western and northern portions or the PPR; most studio to date have been conducted in Iowa. Minnesota, or South Dakota. Key Words: wetland restoration, prairie pothole region, PPR, literature review, wetland functions and values. postrestoration studies

Biological Science Report↗
USGS2003

Methods for quality-assurance review of water-quality data in New Jersey

This report is an instructional and reference manual that describes methods developed and used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), New Jersey District, to assure the accuracy and precision of the results of analyses of surface- and ground-water samples received from analyzing laboratories and, ultimately, to ensure the integrity of water-quality data in USGS databases and published reports. A statistical-analysis computer program, COMP.PPL, is used to determine whether the values reported by the laboratories are internally consistent, whether they are reasonable when compared with values for samples previously collected at the same site, and whether they exceed applicable drinking-water regulations. The program output consists of three files -- QWREVIEW, QWOUTLIERS, and QWCALC. QWREVIEW presents the results of tests of chemical logic and shows values that exceed drinking-water regulations. QWOUTLIERS identifies values that fall outside the historical range of values for the site sampled. QWCALC shows values and calculations used for reference purposes. Because values that are identified by the program as questionable may or may not be in error, the reviewer looks at both qualitative and quantitative relations between analytes during the period of record and then uses technical judgement to decide whether to accept a questionable value or investigate further. Guidelines for, and the use of regression analysis in, making this decision are described. Instructions are given for requesting that the analyzing laboratory reanalyze a constituent or otherwise verify the reported value. If, upon reanalysis or verification, a value is still questionable, consideration must be given to deleting the value or marking the value in the USGS National Water Information System database as having been reviewed and rejected.

New Jersey↗
USGS2022

The capacity of freshwater ecosystems to recover from exceedances of aquatic life criteria

In the United States, national chemical water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life assume that aquatic ecosystems have sufficient resiliency to recover from criteria exceedences occurring up to once every 3 years. This resiliency assumption was critically reviewed through two approaches: 1) synthesis of case studies and 2) population modeling. The population modeling examined differences in recovery of species with widely different life histories. One invertebrate ( Hyalella azteca ) and four fish species were modeled (fathead minnow, brook trout, lake trout, and shortnose sturgeon) with various disturbance magnitudes and intervals. The synthesis of ecosystem case studies showed generally faster recoveries for insect communities rather than fish, and recoveries from pulse (acute) disturbances were often faster than recoveries from press (chronic) disturbances. When the recovery dataset excluded severe disturbances that seemed unrepresentative of common facility discharge upsets that might cause criteria exceedences, the median recovery time was 1 year, 81% of the cases were considered recovered within 3 years, and 95% were considered recovered within 10 years. The modeling projected that short-lived fish species with high recovery times could thrive despite enduring 50% mortality disturbances every other year. However, long-lived fish species had longer recovery times and declined under the 1 disturbance every 3 years scenario. Overall, the analyses did not refute the long-standing judgements that 3 years is generally sufficient for recovery from non-repetitive, moderate intensity disturbances of a magnitude up to 2X the chronic criteria in waters without other pollution sources or stresses. However, these constraints may not always be met and if long-lived fish species are a concern, longer return intervals such as 5 to 10 years could be indicated.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry↗
USGS2019

A brief introduction to integrated pest management for aquatic systems

Aquatic invasive plants and animals are increasingly becoming a problem, causing severe economic and ecological damage to critical freshwater systems. The best strategy for controlling an invasive pest employs an integrated pest management (IPM) approach using a combination of biological, physical, chemical, and social/cultural control methods. Here, we examine the history and development of IPM and provide a discussion of the components of an IPM program involving development, evaluation, and management. Control approaches will be reviewed and the application of this technique to aquatic systems will be discussed. A discussion of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission's (GLFC) Integrated Management of Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus Control Program will be provided to illustrate the application of IPM to an aquatic system.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS2006

Impacts of new highways and subsequent landscape urbanization on stream habitat and biota

New highways are pervasive, pernicious threats to stream ecosystems because of their short- and long-term physical, chemical, and biological impacts. Unfortunately, standard environmental impact statements (EISs) and environmental assessments (EAs) focus narrowly on the initial direct impacts of construction and ignore other long-term indirect impacts. More thorough consideration of highway impacts, and, ultimately, better land use decisions may be facilitated by conceptualizing highway development in three stages: initial highway construction, highway presence, and eventual landscape urbanization. Highway construction is characterized by localized physical disturbances, which generally subside through time. In contrast, highway presence and landscape urbanization are characterized by physical and chemical impacts that are temporally persistent. Although the impacts of highway presence and landscape urbanization are of similar natures, the impacts are of a greater magnitude and more widespread in the urbanization phase. Our review reveals that the landscape urbanization stage is clearly the greatest threat to stream habitat and biota, as stream ecosystems are sensitive to even low levels (<10%) of watershed urban development. Although highway construction is ongoing, pervasive, and has severe biological consequences, we found few published investigations of its impacts on streams. Researchers know little about the occurrence, loading rates, and biotic responses to specific contaminants in highway runoff. Also needed is a detailed understanding of how highway crossings, especially culverts, affect fish populations via constraints on movement and how highway networks alter natural regimes (e.g., streamflow, temperature). Urbanization research topics that may yield especially useful results include a) the relative importance and biological effects of specific components of urban development - e.g., commercial or residential; b) the scenarios under which impacts are reversible; and c) the efficacy of mitigation measures - e.g., stormwater retention or treatment and forested buffers. Copyright ?? Taylor & Francis Inc.

Reviews in Fisheries Science↗
USGS2009

Land crabs as key drivers in tropical coastal forest recruitment

Plant populations are regulated by a diverse assortment of abiotic and biotic factors that influence seed dispersal and viability, and seedling establishment and growth at the microsite. Rarely does one animal guild exert as significant an influence on different plant assemblages as land crabs. We review three tropical coastal ecosystems-mangroves, island maritime forests, and mainland coastal terrestrial forests-where land crabs directly influence forest composition by limiting tree establishment and recruitment. Land crabs differentially prey on seeds, propagules and seedlings along nutrient, chemical and physical environmental gradients. In all of these ecosystems, but especially mangroves, abiotic gradients are well studied, strong and influence plant species distributions. However, we suggest that crab predation has primacy over many of these environmental factors by acting as the first limiting factor of tropical tree recruitment to drive the potential structural and compositional organisation of coastal forests. We show that the influence of crabs varies relative to tidal gradient, shoreline distance, canopy position, time, season, tree species and fruiting periodicity. Crabs also facilitate forest growth and development through such activities as excavation of burrows, creation of soil mounds, aeration of soils, removal of leaf litter into burrows and creation of carbon-rich soil microhabitats. For all three systems, land crabs influence the distribution, density and size-class structure of tree populations. Indeed, crabs are among the major drivers of tree recruitment in tropical coastal forest ecosystems, and their conservation should be included in management plans of these forests. ?? 2009 Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Biological Reviews↗
USGS2001

Determination of element affinities by density fractionation of bulk coal samples

A review has been made of the various methods of determining major and trace element affinities for different phases, both mineral and organic in coals, citing their various strengths and weaknesses. These include mathematical deconvolution of chemical analyses, direct microanalysis, sequential extraction procedures and density fractionation. A new methodology combining density fractionation with mathematical deconvolution of chemical analyses of whole coals and their density fractions has been evaluated. These coals formed part of the IEA-Coal Research project on the Modes of Occurrence of Trace Elements in Coal. Results were compared to a previously reported sequential extraction methodology and showed good agreement for most elements. For particular elements (Be, Mo, Cu, Se and REEs) in specific coals where disagreement was found, it was concluded that the occurrence of rare trace element bearing phases may account for the discrepancy, and modifications to the general procedure must be made to account for these.

Fuel↗