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Geology topics

W. R. Green

Publications and source records attributed to W. R. Green.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

An equation of state for hypersaline water in Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is one of the largest and most saline lakes in the world. In order to accurately model limnological processes in GSL, hydrodynamic calculations require the precise estimation of water density ( ρ ) under a variety of environmental conditions. An equation of state was developed with water samples collected from GSL to estimate density as a function of salinity and water temperature. The ρ of water samples from the south arm of GSL was measured as a function of temperature ranging from 278 to 323 degrees Kelvin ( o K) and conductivity salinities ranging from 23 to 182 g L −1 using an Anton Paar density meter. These results have been used to develop the following equation of state for GSL (σ = ± 0.32 kg m −3 ): ρ − ρ 0 = 184 .0 10 6 2 + 1 .0 4 70 8 ∗ S − 1. 2 10 6 1 ∗ T + 3 . 1 4 7 2 1 E − 4 ∗ S 2 + 0.00 1 9 9 T 2 − 0.00 1 1 2 ∗ S ∗ T , where ρ 0 is the density of pure water in kg m −3 , S is conductivity salinity g L −1 , and T is water temperature in degrees Kelvin.

Utah

Pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in selected north-central and northwestern Arkansas streams

Recently, our attention has focused on the low level detection of many antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other organic chemicals in water resources. The limited studies available suggest that urban or rural streams receiving wastewater effluent are more susceptible to contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other organic chemicals at 18 sites on seven selected streams in Arkansas, USA, during March, April, and August 2004. Water samples were collected upstream and downstream from the influence of effluent discharges in northwestern Arkansas and at one site on a relatively undeveloped stream in north-central Arkansas. At least one antibiotic, pharmaceutical, or other organic chemical was detected at all sites, except at Spavinaw Creek near Mayesville, Arkansas. The greatest number of detections was observed at Mud Creek downstream from an effluent discharge, including 31 pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals. The detection of these chemicals occurred in higher frequency at sites downstream from effluent discharges compared to those sites upstream from effluent discharges; total chemical concentration was also greater downstream. Wastewater effluent discharge increased the concentrations of detergent metabolites, fire retardants, fragrances and flavors, and steroids in these streams. Antibiotics and associated degradation products were only found at two streams downstream from effluent discharges. Overall, 42 of the 108 chemicals targeted in this study were found in water samples from at least one site, and the most frequently detected organic chemicals included caffeine, phenol, para -cresol, and acetyl hexamethyl tetrahydro naphthalene (AHTN).

Journal of Environmental Quality

Using regression methods to estimate stream phosphorus loads at the Illinois River, Arkansas

The development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) requires evaluating existing constituent loads in streams. Accurate estimates of constituent loads are needed to calibrate watershed and reservoir models for TMDL development. The best approach to estimate constituent loads is high frequency sampling, particularly during storm events, and mass integration of constituents passing a point in a stream. Most often, resources are limited and discrete water quality samples are collected on fixed intervals and sometimes supplemented with directed sampling during storm events. When resources are limited, mass integration is not an accurate means to determine constituent loads and other load estimation techniques such as regression models are used. The objective of this work was to determine a minimum number of water-quality samples needed to provide constituent concentration data adequate to estimate constituent loads at a large stream. Twenty sets of water quality samples with and without supplemental storm samples were randomly selected at various fixed intervals from a database at the Illinois River, northwest Arkansas. The random sets were used to estimate total phosphorus (TP) loads using regression models. The regression-based annual TP loads were compared to the integrated annual TP load estimated using all the data. At a minimum, monthly sampling plus supplemental storm samples (six samples per year) was needed to produce a root mean square error of less than 15%. Water quality samples should be collected at least semi-monthly (every 15 days) in studies less than two years if seasonal time factors are to be used in the regression models. Annual TP loads estimated from independently collected discrete water quality samples further demonstrated the utility of using regression models to estimate annual TP loads in this stream system.

Arkansas

Sources and haloacetic acid/trihalomethane formation potentials of aquatic humic substances in the Wakarusa River and Clinton Lake near Lawrence, Kansas

Gram quantities of aquatic humic substances (AHS) were extracted from the Wakarusa River−Clinton Lake Reservoir system, near Lawrence, KS, to support nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimental studies, report concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and AHS, define sources of the AHS, and determine if the AHS yield sufficient quantities of haloacetic acids (HAA5) and trihalomethanes (THM4) that exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) in drinking water. AHS from the Wakarusa River and Clinton Lake originated from riparian forest vegetation, reflected respective effects of soil organic matter and aquatic algal/bacterial sources, and bore evidence of biological degradation and photodegradation. AHS from the Wakarusa River showed the effect of terrestrial sources, whereas Clinton Lake humic acid also reflected aquatic algal/bacterial sources. Greater amounts of carbon attributable to tannin-derived chemical structures may correspond with higher HAA5 and THM4 yields for Clinton Lake fulvic acid. Prior to appreciable leaf-fall from deciduous trees, the combined (humic and fulvic acid) THM4 formation potentials for the Wakarusa River approached the proposed EPA THM4 Stage I MCL of 80 μg/L, and the combined THM4 formation potential for Clinton Lake slightly exceeded the proposed THM4 Stage II MCL of 40 μg/L. Finally, AHS from Clinton Lake could account for most (>70%) of the THM4 concentrations in finished water from the Clinton Lake Water Treatment Plant based on September 23, 1996, THM4 results.

Environmental Science & Technology

DBP formation of aquatic humic substances

Terrestrial vegetation commonly shed into reservoirs contains chemical precursors of DBPs. Aquatic humic substances (AHSs) in water generate potentially harmful disinfection by‐products (DBPs) such as haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) during chlorination. AHSs from two Arkansas reservoirs were characterized to define source, identify meta‐dihydroxybenzene (m‐DHB) structures as probable DBP precursors, and evaluate predicted HAA and THM formation potentials. Elemental nitrogen content < 1 percent, phenol content > 0.5 μeq/mg, δ 13 C values of –27% o , and low yields of syringyl phenols found by cupric oxide (CuO) oxidation suggest a pine tree source for the AHSs found in the Maumelle and Winona reservoirs in Little Rock, Ark. CuO oxidation yielded fewer m‐DHB structures in Maumelle AHSs than in Winona AHSs. A higher 3,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,5‐DHBA) content correlated with increased HAA and THM formation potential. The 3,5‐DHBA concentration in Winona AHSs was similar to the range found in AHSs extracted from deciduous leaf litter, twigs, and grass leachates.

Journal - American Water Works Association

Eutrophication trends inferred from hypolimnetic dissolved-oxygen dynamics within selected White River reservoirs, northern Arkansas-southern Missouri, 1974-94

The White River Basin in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri contains four major reservoirs. Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals Lakes form a chain of reservoirs on the main stem of the White River. Norfork Lake is on the North Fork River, a tributary of the White River. Vertical water- column profiles of temperature and dissolved- oxygen concentrations have been collected monthly, in general, at sites near the dam of each reservoir since 1974. Hypolimnetic dissolved- oxygen dynamics of these reservoirs from 1974 through 1994 were examined based on the near-dam data and used to infer temporal changes in eutrophication. Regression models indicated that a positive relation existed between discharge through the dam during the stratification season and the areal hypolimnetic deficit. Temporal changes in the relative areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit, a model that adjusts the areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit to standard temperature and depth, showed a decreasing trend in Beaver Lake from 1974 through 1994, indicating that the level of eutrophication decreased. Little or no change in the relative areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit occurred in Table Rock, Bull Shoals, or Norfork Lakes over the period of record. Temporal analysis of the residuals from the oxygen deficit-discharge model indicated that the oxygen deficit-discharge function changed over time in Beaver and Table Rock Lakes. There was little or no temporal trend in residuals of areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit over the period of record for Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes. Multiple regression using a time variable and discharge through the dam during the stratification season was examined for the four reservoirs. The slope coefficient of the time variable for both Beaver and Table Rock Lakes was negative, indicating that the temporal function driving the discharge related areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit decreased over the period of record. This temporal function may be an expression of biological productivity or eutrophication. Based on these results, the level of eutrophication may have decreased in Beaver and Table Rock Lakes and remained stable in Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes from 1974 through 1994. It is possible that the aging and evolutionary processes in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Norfork Lakes are dominant in controlling biological productivity and eutrophication in each reservoir immediately above the dam. Beaver Lake is the youngest of the four reservoirs, constructed in 1963, and for the period of record, may have been in the initial stage of high productivity followed by a declining stage of productivity that generally occurs within a reservoir soon after impoundment. Table Rock Lake was constructed in 1959 and, for the period of record, may have been in the stage of declining productivity following the peak of productivity resulting from impoundment. The impoundment of Beaver Lake upstream also may have influenced the inferred decline of productivity within Table Rock Lake. Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes are older than Beaver and Table Rock Lakes, constructed in 1951 and 1944, respectively. The reason that changes in eutrophication were not detected in Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes could be that these reservoirs, for the period of record, were characterized by the stage of low and stable productivity that generally occurs within a reservoir many years after impoundment.

Water-Resources Investigations Report