Environmental Sciences Seminar Series Presents:

Following the Flow: how to discover the origin of water using natural chemistry and isotopes

Dr. Daniel H. Doctor

Isotope Tracers Group

U.S. Geological Survey

Menlo Park , CA

Thursday February 09, 2006 at 5:00 pm

Smittcamp Alumni House, CSU, Fresno

(reception at 5:00 pm , followed by seminar at 5:20 pm )

Abstract:

One of the most important tasks in water quality and environmental research is to quantify the sources of water that contribute to a sample collected in the field.  Should the quality of that sample be adversely impacted, several logical questions arise: Where does the water come from? How many sources might contribute? What might the quality of those sources be? How old are those sources?

This presentation will focus on techniques commonly used for estimating mixing between natural waters using chemistry and isotopes as tracers. We will explore some simple mixing models employing only a few tracers, as well as more complex techniques that use larger data sets. In addition, we will discuss the problem of combining hydrologic flow data with tracer information. Finally, we will highlight some important advances in the automated analysis of the chemical and isotopic composition of water that allow the use of these parameters as natural tracers, both of water movement and of biogeochemical reactions that occur to alter water quality.

All members of the professional, educational, and research communities are welcome. For additional information, please contact the Earth & Environmental Sciences department office at (559) 278-3086 or vengieb@csufresno.edu

Parking restrictions will be relaxed in Lot V (Shaw and Woodrow Avenues) between 4:30 and 7:00 pm for seminar participants. An online campus parking map is available at: http://www.csufresno.edu/univrelations/map