Article
Environmental Sciences
Ellen Foley, Alan D. Steinman
Summary: Road salt runoff is having a growing impact on water quality globally, particularly on freshwater ecosystems. This study focuses on the influence of road salt on an urban lake in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The research found that high chloride concentrations prevent complete mixing in the lake, leading to hypoxia in the deepest regions. Additionally, high phosphorus concentrations in the lake are likely to have accumulated over a long period of time. The study highlights the need for managing both internal and external sources of phosphorus and chloride in lake management actions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tassiane P. Junqueira, Daniel F. Araujo, Anna L. Harrison, Kaj Sullivan, Matthew I. Leybourne, Bas Vriens
Summary: This study used copper stable isotopes to assess copper loads and sources in two major river systems in Canada. The results showed that while the hydrochemical compositions of the river waters were consistent, the copper concentrations varied spatially. The study also revealed that the copper isotope patterns differed between the two river systems, indicating different sourcing and contributions to the copper loads.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gaston E. Small, Niklas Martensson, Benjamin D. Janke, Genevieve Suzanne Metson
Summary: Urban gardens and farms contribute significantly to nitrogen and phosphorus export in stormwater runoff, due to high compost inputs and low nutrient use efficiencies. The contribution of gardens to nutrient export depends on retention efficiency values, with high efficiency minimizing their impact. Understanding the long-term fate of excess nutrients in urban landscapes is crucial.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gaston E. Small, Niklas Martensson, Benjamin D. Janke, Genevieve Suzanne Metsone
Summary: Urban gardens and farms using compost as a nutrient source can contribute significantly to urban nutrient budgets through stormwater runoff. The study finds that gardens and farms, although occupying a small fraction of land area, account for a large proportion of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to urban landscapes. The significance of their contribution depends on compost inputs and nutrient retention efficiency, highlighting the importance of understanding the fate of excess nutrients on urban landscapes.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Erika K. Wise
Summary: This study reconstructed precipitation and runoff in 28 U.S. West Coast watersheds using tree-ring records, finding that the Monthly and Four-Season models had higher skill and extreme capture in most basins compared to other models. These versions also decreased model error in years with intense precipitation and retained more variability in the preinstrumental period. Improved capture of year-round moisture can provide a more complete representation of the preinstrumental past and enhance the understanding of shorter-duration and season-specific events like atmospheric rivers.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Clare Nelligan, Ryan J. Sorichetti, Meguel Yousif, Janis L. Thomas, Christopher C. Wellen, Christopher T. Parsons, Mohamed N. Mohamed
Summary: The research found that the importance of nonpoint source nutrient export has increased in agricultural watersheds in southern Ontario since the mid-1970s, emphasizing the need for targeted best management practices specific to the fall and winter seasons.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Christopher T. Solomon, Hilary A. Dugan, William D. Hintz, Stuart E. Jones
Summary: The widespread and increasing use of road deicing salt is causing an increase in lake chloride concentrations, which has negative impacts on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. A simple model was used to study the factors affecting road salt concentrations and predict equilibrium concentrations in lakes across the contiguous United States. The model shows that equilibrium salt concentration depends on salt application rate, road density, and runoff. By controlling or reducing salt application rates, it is possible to achieve equilibrium concentrations below recommended thresholds in many lakes. The analysis provides insights into the current trends of road salt pollution in lakes and suggests achievable goals for protecting aquatic organisms.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Miraj B. Kayastha, Xinyu Ye, Chenfu Huang, Pengfei Xue
Summary: The Great Lakes' water levels are important for ecosystems, industries, and coastal processes. This study uses a three-dimensional regional climate modeling system to accurately simulate the hydrodynamics and thermal structure of the lakes and projects an increase in net basin supplies and average water levels in the future. However, there is uncertainty in climate projection.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Daniel T. Myers, Darren L. Ficklin, Scott M. Robeson
Summary: Rain-on-snow (ROS) melt events decrease water storage in the snowpack and exacerbate flooding. This study used a hydrologic model to simulate changes in ROS events in the North American Great Lakes Basin from 1960-2069. The results show a reduction in melt in warmer, southern subbasins and a smaller reduction in colder, northern subbasins, while rainfall reduces snowpack formation. This research is important for managing freshwater ecosystems and human uses in regions sensitive to ROS events.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mia E. Forgione, Steven P. Brady
Summary: Organisms that rely on aquatic habitats in roaded landscapes, such as wood frogs, face negative consequences due to pollution, particularly freshwater salinization. This study found that roadside populations of wood frogs are less fit and more sensitive to road salt compared to woodland populations. The research showed that the survival disadvantage for roadside wood frog embryos persisted and developmental rates were delayed compared to woodland populations. These findings suggest that local maladaptation in roadside wood frog populations is driven by embryonic sensitivity to salt and delayed developmental rates.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Md Mahmudun Nabi, Jingjing Wang, Mahdi Erfani, Erfan Goharian, Mohammed Baalousha
Summary: Urban runoff is a major source of pollutants, including nanoparticles, in surface waters. This study investigates the impact of urbanization on the concentrations of engineered TiO2 particles in urban surface waters. The results show that urban runoff contributes to high concentrations of TiO2 particles, posing potential risks to aquatic organisms during rainfall events.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Ian M. Simpson, Ryan J. Winston, R. Andrew Tirpak, Jay D. Dorsey, James H. Stagge, Jon M. Hathaway
Summary: The need for resilient stormwater infrastructure is crucial due to urbanization and climate change threats. Reliable methodologies are required to estimate rainfall-runoff responses for sewer pipe, flood control, and stormwater control measure design. In this study, 13 urban and two forested watersheds were monitored, and alternative predictive models were compared to traditional methods. The results suggest that no single model is optimal for all scenarios and multiple methodologies should be considered.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cassandra Johannessen, Paul Helm, Chris D. Metcalfe
Summary: The study found elevated concentrations of HMMM in surface waters of two rivers in the Greater Toronto Area during rain events and snow melt, while lower average concentrations were detected during winter and spring rain events. The temporal profiles of HMMM concentrations closely corresponded to water level changes during rain events, indicating that runoff from roads is a significant vector for the transport of HMMM into urban surface waters.
ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tim J. Peterson, M. Saft, M. C. Peel, A. John
Summary: The Millennium Drought in southeastern Australia provided a natural experiment to challenge the assumption that watershed streamflow always recovers from drought. Seven years after the drought, 37% of watersheds had not recovered in terms of runoff, and the number of recovered watersheds was not increasing. The study found that post-drought precipitation not going to runoff likely went to increased evapotranspiration per unit of precipitation, suggesting a finite resilience of watersheds to disturbances.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tiantian Wang, Siping Niu, Jing Wu, Jianghua Yu
Summary: In recent years, there has been increasing attention on microplastic pollution and its potential ecological risks. This study investigated the seasonal and daily pollution characteristics of microplastics in road dust in Ma'anshan city, China. The results showed that the abundance of microplastics did not vary significantly among seasons, but the proportions of different polymers and apparent morphology did change. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the abundance of microplastics and the dust load.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)