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Isotopic Tracers As Evidence Of Denitrification In The Karlsruhe Aquifer, Eben J. Spencer
Isotopic Tracers As Evidence Of Denitrification In The Karlsruhe Aquifer, Eben J. Spencer
Theses and Dissertations
The Karlsruhe Aquifer of north-central North Dakota has experienced considerable nitrate contamination sparking an investigation by the North Dakota State Water Commission. Certain portions of the aquifer have experienced nitrate-N concentrations of up to seven times the drinking water standard. Although contamination is evident it is possible the NO₃¯ is naturally being eliminated by denitrification, whereby bacteria reduce NO₃¯ to nitrogen gas. Evidence of denitrification may be illustrated by accelerated reduction of NO₃¯ relative to the conservative tracer Cl¯ coupled with an increase in the heavy isotopes of 15N and 18O within the NO₃¯ ion. Such an increase is not …