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Full-Text Articles in Earth Sciences
Analysis Of Hydrogeologic Sensitivity In Winona County, Minnesota, Michael D. Trojan, James A. Perry
Analysis Of Hydrogeologic Sensitivity In Winona County, Minnesota, Michael D. Trojan, James A. Perry
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
Hydrogeologic sensitivity to contamination throughout Winona County in southeastern Minnesota was assessed using the recently developed Trojan-Perry rating method. Sensitivity varied across and within three analysis regions. The Prairie du Chien Aquifer, comprising Region I, showed a wide range of sensitivity, varying from moderate to extreme. Areas of greatest sensitivity were sites where the aquifer was unconfined and overlain by a thin layer of unconsolidated material and karst bedrock. Under these conditions water may rapidly infiltrate through the soil zone and highly dissolved bedrock and into underlying aquifers. The Ironton-Galesville Aquifer, comprising Region II, was protected from surface infiltration by …
Geographic Information Systems, Data, And Water Resources, Dwight A. Brown, Philip J. Gersmehl
Geographic Information Systems, Data, And Water Resources, Dwight A. Brown, Philip J. Gersmehl
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-We evaluate three data handling methods for use in a GIS analysis of land-cover change impacts on runoff. A universe of 2560 point samples is analyzed to provide runoff calculations that would se1:7e _as a comparison base to evaluate different attribute logic systems. The attribute logics ~e evaluate are two va~1at1ons of tag and one of count. We chose a two by five mile area of Dakota County, Mmnesota as the test site, and prepared raster GIS maps of soil hydrologic groups and two plausible land covers. The count 1:1~thod for handling the generalization of data produced results that were …
Landscape Assessment Of Soil Erosion And Nonpoint Source Pollution, Ian D. Moore, John L. Nieber
Landscape Assessment Of Soil Erosion And Nonpoint Source Pollution, Ian D. Moore, John L. Nieber
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-The hydrologic processes occurring in the landscape are a manifestation of its topographic attributes. Spatially variable topographic-based attributes permit the distribution of hydrologic and nonpoint source pollution processes to be mapped within catchments. They can be derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) using a variety of Terrain Analysis Methods (TAMs). The relationships between topographic indices and the spatial distribution of the potential for surface runoff, groundwater recharge, soil erosion, and evapotranspiration are graphically illustrated.
Water Quality In Southeastern Minnesota Streams: Observations Along A Gradient Of Land Use And Geology, Nels H. Troelstrup Jr., James A. Perry
Water Quality In Southeastern Minnesota Streams: Observations Along A Gradient Of Land Use And Geology, Nels H. Troelstrup Jr., James A. Perry
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-Surface water quality in southeastern Minnesota's driftless area exhibits subregional and local spatial patterns which are highly correlated with subsurface geology and land-use practices. Some variables appear to respond on subregional or watershed scales. Nitrate, specific conductance, alkalinity, and surface water atrazine concentrations were lower in streams originating from the Prairie Du Chien or Jordan sandstone ~quifers of easte:n Fillmore and Houston Counties than those originating from the Galena limestone aquifer m west-central Fillmore County. In addition, the numbers of pollution intolerant and functionally specialized invertebrates in the benthic community were higher in the eastern streams. Gross primary production on …
Origin And Developmental History Of Minnesota Lakes, H. E. Wright Jr.
Origin And Developmental History Of Minnesota Lakes, H. E. Wright Jr.
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-Most lakes in Minnesota owe their origin directly or indirectly to glacial deposition or erosion 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. The lakes' shapes have since been modified by waves and currents near the shores and by the deposition of sediment off-shore-principally the sediment produced by growth of algae and other organisms. This sediment is a receptacle for pollen grains blown into the lake from the surrounding vegetation, and the stratigraphic succession of pollen grains records the postglacial vegetational and thus climatic history of the area. The sediment also preserves the fossils of microorganisms that reveal by their chemical composition the …
Natural And Anthropogenic Forces Acting On A Forest Lake, M. C. Whiteside, M. B. King, K. Pulling
Natural And Anthropogenic Forces Acting On A Forest Lake, M. C. Whiteside, M. B. King, K. Pulling
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABS1RACT-Lak~ Itasca, Minnes~ta is located within one of the more popular state parks. Since the turn of the centmy, loggmg, fire protection, and development within the watershed have put modest pressures on the ecosystem. The presence of the University of Minnesota's Biological and Forestry Station on the lake has encouraged research in this region. Consequently there are numerous research reports and papers which are available _at the station's library. We examined data collected over the past 25 years to see if we could detect changes ~~ the lake. We detected no changes in phytoplankton, macrophyte, zooplankton, or zoobenthos com~urnues, but …
Residence Times Of Minnesota Groundwaters, Scott C. Alexander, E. Calvin Alexander Jr.
Residence Times Of Minnesota Groundwaters, Scott C. Alexander, E. Calvin Alexander Jr.
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-Tritium, 14C, and nitrate analyses for eighty groundwater samples from selected Minnesota aquifers indicate a range of residence times from a few days or weeks to tens of thousands of years. The presence of significant nitrate contamination in groundwater is confined to recent or mixed groundwaters. Isotopic studies can yield information that will be useful in the design of effective groundwater protection plans in Minnesota.
A Hydrologic Model For Minnesota Peatlands, Kenneth N. Brooks, Dawn R. Kreft
A Hydrologic Model For Minnesota Peatlands, Kenneth N. Brooks, Dawn R. Kreft
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-The Peatland Hydrologic Impact Model (PHIM) is a continuous simulation computer model developed over a twelve-year period to aid hydrologists in understanding the hydrologic functions of peatlands and upland-peatland watersheds. An initial conceptual model defined the research needed to create the working m?del. The re~e_arch has become an iterative process of model design, field work, model refinement, ~ode! test1?g, an~ add1t1?nal field work. The model is as physically-based as possible while relying on data mput that 1s readily available to the natural resources community. It simulates streamflow response of peatlands, upland-peatland systems, mined peatlands, and a combination of these watershed …
Human Impacts To Minnesota Wetlands, Carol A. Johnston
Human Impacts To Minnesota Wetlands, Carol A. Johnston
Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science
ABSTRACT-Minnesota's 3.6 million ha of wetlands have been impacted by a variety of human activities, including agricultural drainage, urbanization, water control, and nonpoint source pollution. More than half of Minnesota's wetlands have been destroyed since the first European settlers arrived, an average loss of about 35,600 ha/yr. Drainage for agriculture is the major cause of wetland loss in Minnesota, particularly in southern Minnesota and the Red River Valley. In addition to impacting wetlands directly, wetland drainage affects downstream areas by increasing flood flows, and releasing sediment and nutrients. Urban development and highway construction affect a smaller proportion of Minnesota's wetlands, …