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Thermal Plume Transport From Sand And Gravel Pits Potential Thermal Impacts On Cool-Water Streams, Jeffrey M. Markle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Potential thermal impacts from below-water-table aggregate extraction on a cool-water stream were investigated by monitoring thermal plumes, moving through an unconfined glacial-outwash aquifer, and assessing their subsurface persistence. The growing demand for aggregate and increased pressure to pursue extraction in ecologically sensitive areas has driven the need for this work. During a 10-year period, ground and surface water temperatures were measured monthly, including two periods of intensive monitoring (22 months and 2.5 years). The aquifer hydraulic conductivity (K) is quantified at the laboratory and field scale. The mean K’s from the multi-scale tests depend on test-support volume and …