The mechanisms that control the composition of river-borne materials are only imperfectly understood, because both erosion and the subsequent transport of material by rivers are mediated by a wide variety of highly-linked chemical, biological, and physical processes. Moreover, in developed river systems, such as those in the United States, these processes are subject to pervasive human- related perturbations. This project studies weathering, erosion, and atmospheric-exchange processes which are the sources of dissolved and particulate material in rivers and trace substances in the atmosphere; studies chemical partitioning of various phases during transport in rivers and estuaries; describes the dispersal pathways of river-borne substances [...]
Summary
The mechanisms that control the composition of river-borne materials are only imperfectly understood, because both erosion and the subsequent transport of material by rivers are mediated by a wide variety of highly-linked chemical, biological, and physical processes. Moreover, in developed river systems, such as those in the United States, these processes are subject to pervasive human- related perturbations. This project studies weathering, erosion, and atmospheric-exchange processes which are the sources of dissolved and particulate material in rivers and trace substances in the atmosphere; studies chemical partitioning of various phases during transport in rivers and estuaries; describes the dispersal pathways of river-borne substances through river systems and estuaries, into and across the coastal marine environment; and evaluates the extent to which human activities, particularly changes in land use, have affected systems being examined, so as to provide data for studies of water-quality trends and climate change. For additional information:
seeHydrologic and Erosional Responses of Burned Watershedsfor wildfire studies, or see the page for theBoulder Creek Watershed in Colorado.