Using Isotopes to Analyze Soil Erosion and Deposition for the Bull Creek Watershed in Oklahoma

Using Isotopes to Analyze Soil Erosion and Deposition for the Bull Creek Watershed in Oklahoma
Author: Bing Liu
Publisher:
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem worldwide. Extensive research has been conducted identifying and quantifying erosion processes, measuring soil erosion, and evaluating the effectiveness of soil conservation practices. Accurately predicting soil erosion in space and time continues to be a challenge, and detailed spatial erosion data at field and watershed scales are needed to validate, calibrate, and improve erosion models. The Cs-137 and fingerprinting methods have been used to estimate soil erosion and sediment sources in many studies, but uncertainties exist in both methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these two methods and compare predictions with the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. The study area for this research was the Bull Creek watershed, located in west central Oklahoma. The Cs-137 method predicted reasonable long-term average soil erosion and deposition rates and integrated spatial and temporal changes in erosion/deposition. Compared to WEPP, the Cs-137 method needed less information and only required a one-time sampling. The fingerprinting method provided useful information about the sediment source contributions and performed best with two sources. For the Bull Creek study area, the mixing model predicted the source contribution with the lowest model errors; however, the results were not significantly different. The new Discriminate Function Analysis method may be a better method since it avoids spurious numerical solutions. When using the Cs-137 and the fingerprinting methods, sample collection and the proper application of particle size correction factors were critical. When there were two source types, the fingerprinting method and WEPP watershed model predicted similar source contributions. However, with three source types their predictions diverged. In addition, WEPP predicted significantly less sediment yield from the rangeland compared to the fingerprinting method. Combining erosion models with the fingerprinting method provides a more detailed evaluation of erosion predictions, which may result in improved land management recommendations and decisions.

Watershed Hydrology

Watershed Hydrology
Author: Vijay P. Singh
Publisher: Allied Publishers
Total Pages: 588
Release: 2003
Genre: Groundwater
ISBN: 9788177645477

Riparian Areas

Riparian Areas
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 449
Release: 2002-10-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309082951

The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that wetlands be protected from degradation because of their important ecological functions including maintenance of high water quality and provision of fish and wildlife habitat. However, this protection generally does not encompass riparian areasâ€"the lands bordering rivers and lakesâ€"even though they often provide the same functions as wetlands. Growing recognition of the similarities in wetland and riparian area functioning and the differences in their legal protection led the NRC in 1999 to undertake a study of riparian areas, which has culminated in Riparian Areas: Functioning and Strategies for Management. The report is intended to heighten awareness of riparian areas commensurate with their ecological and societal values. The primary conclusion is that, because riparian areas perform a disproportionate number of biological and physical functions on a unit area basis, restoration of riparian functions along America's waterbodies should be a national goal.

Isotopes in the Water Cycle

Isotopes in the Water Cycle
Author: Pradeep K. Aggarwal
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 377
Release: 2006-01-16
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1402030231

Environmental isotope and nuclear techniques provide unmatched insights into the processes governing the water cycle and its variability. This monograph presents state of the art applications and new developments of isotopes in hydrology, environmental disciplines and climate change studies. Coverage ranges from the assessment of groundwater resources in terms of recharge and flow regime to studies of the past and present global environmental and climate changes.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2002
Genre: Sewage
ISBN:

"This manual contains overview information on treatment technologies, installation practices, and past performance."--Introduction.

Isotopes in Palaeoenvironmental Research

Isotopes in Palaeoenvironmental Research
Author: Melanie J. Leng
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2006-03-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781402025037

This thorough reference shows how stable isotopes can be applied to understanding the palaeoenvironment, with chapters on the interpretation of isotopes in water, tree rings, bones and teeth, lake sediments, speleothems and marine sediments. The book offers detailed advice on calibration, including a multi-proxy approach, using isotope signals from different materials or combined with other palaeoenvironmental techniques, to enhance the reliability of readings.