Tritium deposition in precipitation in the United States, 1953–2012

Michel, Robert L.; Jurgens, Bryant C.; Young, M. B.

doi:10.3133/sir20185086

Cited by 45 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This is in contrast to samples of thermal water from the Upper Geyser Basin where tritium concentrations are mostly below the analytical detection limit (Hurwitz, Hunt, et al, 2012). The tritium concentration at the Lewis Lake outlet was 6.0 TU, significantly less than the ~10 TU measured in the Upper Firehole River in 2007 (Hurwitz, Hunt et al, 2012), which is also the expected average concentration of precipitation in the interior United States since the early 2000s (Michel et al, 2018). The tritium concentrations in the springs suggest mixing of “old” thermal water with ~10–35% of recent, nonthermal water at shallow depths (Hurwitz et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

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Hydrothermal Activity in the Southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field

Hurwitz

McCleskey

Bergfeld

et al. 2020

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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In the past two decades, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service have studied hydrothermal activity across the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field (YPVF) to improve the understanding of the magmatic‐hydrothermal system and to provide a baseline for detecting future anomalous activity. In 2017 and 2018 we sampled water and gas over a large area in the southwest YPVF and used Landsat 8 thermal infrared data to estimate radiative heat flow. Most of the thermal activity in this region is in close proximity to the Yellowstone Caldera boundary. Springs and fumaroles discharge from a variety of lithologies, including some of the youngest rhyolites in the YPVF. Gas compositions and helium isotope ratios of most samples resemble those in other parts of the YPVF. The waters have meteoric origins, and tritium was detected in several samples. Thermal waters from some areas have compositions that plot along a line connecting thermal and nonthermal water endmember compositions. The thermal water endmember equilibrated at 160°C–170°C, lower than waters in Yellowstone's geyser basins. Heat discharged by springs and fumaroles originates from within the Yellowstone Caldera and is transported laterally by advection, mainly along the base of rhyolite flows that cover the inferred caldera boundaries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems concentration of precipitation in the interior United States since the early 2000s (Michel et al, 2018). The tritium concentrations in the springs suggest mixing of "old" thermal water with~10-35% of recent, nonthermal water at shallow depths (Hurwitz et al, 2010).…”

Section: 1029/2019gc008848mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrothermal Activity in the Southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field

Hurwitz

McCleskey

Bergfeld

et al. 2020

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…3 H precipitation( t ) is best determined using local precipitation tritium data; unfortunately, such records are rare. Instead, local precipitation tritium time series (i.e., 3 H precipitation(t) ) can be estimated using statistical models (e.g., Doney et al, ; Newman et al, ; Zhang et al, ), interpolations of precipitation tritium data from nearby stations (Jasechko & Taylor, ), and/or extrapolations of local precipitation tritium data through time by comparing local precipitation tritium data to precipitation measurements made at another station with a longer record (e.g., Blavoux et al, ; Michel et al, ).…”

Section: Modern Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Isotope Hydrogeology―Review

Jasechko

2019

Reviews of Geophysics

233

124

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Groundwater 18O/16O, 2H/1H, 13C/12C, 3H, and 14C data can help quantify molecular movements and chemical reactions governing groundwater recharge, quality, storage, flow, and discharge. Here, commonly applied approaches to isotopic data analysis are reviewed, involving groundwater recharge seasonality, recharge elevations, groundwater ages, paleoclimate conditions, and groundwater discharge. Reviewed works confirm and quantify long held tenets: (i) that recharge derives disproportionately from wet season and winter precipitation; (ii) that modern groundwaters comprise little global groundwater; (iii) that “fossil” (>12,000‐year‐old) groundwaters dominate global aquifer storage; (iv) that fossil groundwaters capture late‐Pleistocene climate conditions; (v) that surface‐borne contaminants are more common in younger groundwaters; and (vi) that groundwater discharges generate substantial streamflow. Groundwater isotope data are disproportionately common to midlatitudes and sedimentary basins equipped for irrigated agriculture, but less plentiful across high latitudes, hyperarid deserts, and equatorial rainforests. Some of these underexplored aquifer systems may be suitable targets for future field testing.

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“…The age of groundwater was classified as Modern, PreModern, or Mixed based on measurements of tritium ( 3 H) and their relation to the history of 3 H in precipitation [Michel et al 2018], corrected for decay to the time of sampling [Lindsey et al 2019]. Modern groundwater is water that was primarily recharged since 1950 and typically has 3 H above 2 tritium units (TU).…”

Section: Redox Land Use and Age Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying areas of degrading and improving groundwater-quality conditions in the State of California, USA, 1974–2014

Jurgens

Fram

Rutledge

et al. 2020

Environ Monit Assess

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Areas of improving and degrading groundwater-quality conditions in the State of California were assessed using spatial weighting of a new metric for scoring wells based on constituent concentrations and the direction and magnitude of a trend slope (Sen). Individual well scores were aggregated across 2135 equal-area grid cells covering the entire groundwater resource used for public supply in the state. Spatial weighting allows results to be aggregated locally (well or grid cell), regionally (groundwater basin), provincially, or statewide. Results differentiate degrading (increasing concentration trends) areas with low to moderate concentrations (unimpaired) from degrading areas with moderate to high concentrations (impaired). Results also differentiate improving areas (decreasing concentration trends) in the same manner. Multi-year to decadal groundwater-quality trends were computed from periodic, inorganic water-quality data for 38 constituents collected between 1974 and 2014 for compliance monitoring of nearly 13,000 public-supply wells (PSWs) in the State of California. Mann-Kendall (MK) rank correlations and Sen's slope estimator were used to detect statistically significant trends for the entire period of recorded data (long-term trend), for the period since 2000 (recent trend), for different pumping seasons (seasonal trend), and for reversals of trends. Statewide, the most frequently detected trends since 2000 were for nitrate (36%), gross alpha/uranium (10%), arsenic (14%), total dissolved solids (TDS) (23%), and the major ions that contribute to TDS (19-28%). The Transverse and Selected Peninsular Ranges (TSPR) and the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) hydrogeologic provinces had the largest percentage of areas with moderate to high nitrate concentrations and groundwater quality trends. Improving nitrate concentrations in parts of the TSPR is associated with long-term managed aquifer recharge that has replaced historical, agriculturally affected groundwater with low-nitrate recharge in parts of the TSPR. This example suggests that application of dilute, excess surface water to agricultural fields during the winter could improve groundwater-quality in the SJV over the long term.

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Tritium deposition in precipitation in the United States, 1953–2012

Cited by 45 publications

References 31 publications

Hydrothermal Activity in the Southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field

Hydrothermal Activity in the Southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field

Global Isotope Hydrogeology―Review

Identifying areas of degrading and improving groundwater-quality conditions in the State of California, USA, 1974–2014

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