Seminars and Events at the Center
Jamie Shanley
U.S. Geological Survey, Montpelier, Vermont
National Research Program
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 11:00
Thinking inside the box: The small watershed approach to biogeochemical research
Abstract
The small watershed is a fundamental landscape unit that simplifies investigations of hydrology and biogeochemistry because the small scale allows processes to be isolated. We will cover the basics of the small watershed approach and look at some classic examples of its application. I then focus on two solutes, sulfate and mercury. Sulfate enters watersheds in acid rain, and we use an isotopic approach to track how it moves through the landscape. Mercury also enters from the atmosphere, and we investigate the amount and timing of mercury delivery to downstream water bodies where it enters the food web and poses a risk to humans. The small watershed approach elucidates the fate of these atmospherically deposited pollutants and allows predictions of the effects of emission controls.
The seminar will be followed by a lunch gathering for serious and casual discussions.
