Douglas K. Maurer

Eolian sand deflation —A cause for gravel barrier islands in arctic Alaska?

Barrier islands in arctic Alaska are composed of sandy gravel, whereas lower-latitude barrier islands are composed of predominantly sandy material. This pronounced grain-size difference needs explanation. Because wind-winnowing of island surfaces is effective during most of the yearly cycle, while sediment supply by waves is effective for about 2 mo at most, eolian sand deflation might be a mechanism to explain the coarse sediments of arctic barrier islands. In late winter, plumes of windblown sand are found on the fast ice downwind of barrier islands. More than 300 t (tonnes) of sand were removed by wind action from one small island near Prudhoe Bay in one winter; this loss suggests a deflation rate of 2 mm for that period.

In situ Arsenic Remediation in a fractured, alkaline aquifer

In situ removal of arsenic from ground water used for water supply has been accomplished in circum-neutral ground water containing high dissolved iron concentrations. In contrast, the ground water at our study site is alkaline, contains measurable dissolved oxygen and little dissolvediron. Because the dissolved iron concentration is low in the basalt aquifer, the iron oxide content of the aquifer would not increase with successive pumping cycles unless iron is added to the injected water. Additionally, the high pH limits adsorption onto iron oxide present in the aquifer. Having the ability to lower arsenic concentrations in high-pH, oxic ground water could have wide application because similar high arsenic ground water is present in many parts of the world.

Assessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California

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Precipitation and runoff simulations of select perennial and ephemeral watersheds in the middle Carson River basin, Eagle, Dayton, and Churchill Valleys, west-central Nevada

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