Sources of nutrient and fecal microbe pollution in Otter Creek, Madison County, Kentucky

We measured nutrient (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate) and fecal microbe concentrations in surface waters of the Otter Creek watershed, Madison County, Kentucky to access sources of these contaminants. The watershed is approximately 12.5 miles long covering ~169 km2 (41,832 acres). The watershed includes East Fork, West Fork, and Dreaming Creek, all tributaries to the main trunk of Otter Creek. The upper portion of the main trunk and Dreaming Creek drain urban areas of Richmond, but 85% of total watershed area is agricultural land, used mainly for grazing cattle. Rural residential areas and woodlands also occur. The principle contaminants are nutrients and fecal microbes as dictated by land use. Fecal microbe counts are typically between 500 and 1000 cfu/100 mL, but often spike to \u3e2419 cfu/100 mL. Fecal microbe counts are highest when associated with pastureland and in Dreaming Creek. Nitrate concentrations are typically between 1 and 2 mg/L N-NO3, but increase to 3–7 mg/L N-NO3 immediately downstream of sewage treatment plant (STP) outflow. Ammonium concentrations are typically 0 mg/L N-NH4, but spike to 1 mg/L N-NH4. Phosphorus concentrations are typically near 0.1 mg/L and are highest immediately below the STP, reaching 0.3–0.4 mg/L P-PO4. Nitrate and phosphorus behave similarly whereas ammonium concentrations are sporadic. Downstream of the STP, nitrate and phosphate decrease progressively until reaching background levels. We infer that principle fecal microbe sources are leaking sewage pipes and cattle feces. The STP is definitely a point source for nitrate and phosphate contamination

Patterns and sources of anthropogenic contaminants in the Otter Creek watershed, Madison County, Kentucky

Stream systems are often affected by anthropogenic contaminants that affect water quality and stream ecosystems. Land use determines the type and quantity of contaminants present in natural waters. The Otter Creek watershed (170 km2; Madison County, Kentucky) consists predominantly of pasture and rural housing, with some cropland. The basin also receives runoff from the town of Richmond and a sewage treatment plant operates within the watershed. We measured concentrations of nutrients (phosphate, ammonium, nitrate) and fecal microbes to discover levels of anthropogenic contaminants affecting water quality and to identify contaminant sources. We sampled 4 times in the summer field season of 2015 over a variety of conditions. Water samples for nutrient analysis were pressed through a 0.45 µm filter, placed in pre-acidified vials, and measured one or two days after collection. Nutrients were measured colorimetrically using established methods. Microbial samples were collected in sterile containers, placed on ice in the field, and then transported to the lab where they were spiked with Colilert-18 media. Samples incubated overnight at 35oC, and Escherichia coli were quantified using IDEXX rapid-assay techniques. Phosphate (0 – 0.5 mg/L) and ammonium (\u3c0.1 mg/L) concentrations were low for all sampling days, whereas nitrate was the dominant anthropogenic nutrient contaminant showing concentrations of 1 – 3 mg/L. Consistently higher levels of phosphate and nitrate were found in the waters of Dreaming Creek, which drains urban Richmond. High ammonium levels were sporadic and associated with pasture. High E. coli counts occurred in Dreaming Creek, the upper reaches of Otter Creek, and proximal to pastures. Both point- and non-point sources exist for contaminants. The sewage treatment plant is a definite point source for nitrate and less so for phosphate and ammonium. High concentrations of nitrate, phosphate, and fecal microbes occur along Dreaming Creek, likely due to leaky sewage distribution pipes. Spikes in ammonium concentration are sourced from cattle pasture. We also tested contaminant levels immediately before and after a rainfall event associated with tropical storm Bill. Phosphate and ammonium levels decreased, whereas nitrate increased significantly. E. coli counts also increased dramatically

Patterns of anthropogenic nutrient contaminants in the Otter Creek watershed, Madison County, Kentucky

We measured nutrient concentrations within the Otter Creek watershed (Madison County, Kentucky) to: (1) discover levels of anthropogenic contaminants affecting the water quality; (2) compare these measurements to a national data set; and (3) identify nutrient sources. The watershed mainly drains rural land characterized by cattle grazing, but also drains the town of Richmond. We sampled throughout the watershed to gain a representative perspective of nutrient levels and specifically targeted localities of suspected anthropogenic nutrient sources. Water samples were passed through a 0.45 mm filter, placed in pre-acidified vials, and measured one to two days after collection. Nutrients – ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate – were measured colorimetrically using the sodium hypochlorite, cadmium reduction, and ascorbic acid methods, respectively. Nutrients within the watershed show distinctively different concentration patterns. Ammonium and phosphate levels remain low for all sampling days. Higher ammonium concentrations are sporadic, but higher phosphate levels persist along Dreaming Creek, which drains Richmond. Nitrate consistently shows higher concentration levels of 4 to 7 mg/L and generally falls with the 25 to 50 percentile range as compared to impacted streams nationally. We sampled the watershed before and after a significant rain event. Ammonium and phosphate values changed little, but much larger amounts of nitrate entered Otter Creek afterward. We attribute higher nutrient values to several sources. A sewage treatment plant is a definite point source for nitrate and to lesser extent for phosphate. High nutrient values in Dreaming Creek are likely due leaky sewage pipes. The major non-point source is from cattle pasture

Communication by Fire (and Smoke) Signals in the Kingdom of Judah

This paper examines the use of ancient fire and smoke signals for communication in the Kingdom of Judah. Historical and biblical references are cited that discuss this communication system. The current physical and political landscape of Israel precludes testing of hypotheses using traditional techniques. The use of a GIS is enlisted to overcome these obstacles and predict line-of-sight patterns that are conducive for a fire signal communication system. Final demonstration of this predictive model will incorporate state-of-the-art technology and in-field data acquisition to provide the sufficient accuracy that is required for proof-of-concept. This research will provide insight into the technical capability of the ancient Israelites for communication across a mountainous, desert environment

Slavic Dialectology: A Survey of Research since 1989

The last 25 years in Slavic dialectology mark the period not only of JSL’s founding but also of major and multiple political, social, and economic reorganizations in predominantly Slavic-speaking states. During this period research institutions and their priorities and projects have both continued and changed; technological innovation has meant moving towards electronic dissemination, “digital humanities,” and innovative modes of presenting research data and findings. In some cases major works (e.g., dialect atlases) have advanced during this period. Moreover, a new generation of scholars has had greater opportunities for mobility and therefore exposure to a variety of linguistic frameworks and approaches, which has fostered cross-border collaboration in the field. The present essay gives an overview of progress made on dialect projects both created institutionally and individually and including both traditional (book, article) and new digital means of dissemination

Anomalous seafloor backscatter patterns in methane venting areas, Dnepr paleo-delta, NW Black Sea

The relation between acoustic seafloor backscatter and seep distribution is examined by integrating multibeam backscatter data and seep locations detected by single-beam echosounder. This study is further supported by side scan sonar recordings, high-resolution 5 kHz seismic data, pore-water analysis, grain-size analysis and visual seafloor observations. The datasets were acquired during the 2003 and 2004 expeditions of the EC-funded CRIMEA project in the Dnepr paleo-delta area, northwestern Black Sea. More than 600 active methane seeps were hydro-acoustically detected within a small (3.96 km by 3.72 km) area on the continental shelf of the Dnepr paleo-delta in water depths ranging from -72 m to -156 m. Multibeam and side scan sonar recordings show backscatter patterns that are clearly associated with seepage or with a present dune area. Seeps generally occur within medium- to high backscatter areas which often coincide with pockmarks. High-resolution seismic data reveal the presence of an undulating gas front, i.e. the top of the free gas in the subsurface, which domes up towards and intersects the seafloor at locations where gas seeps and medium- to high-backscatter values are detected. Pore-water analysis of 4 multi-cores, taken at different backscatter intensity sites, shows a clear correlation between backscatter intensity and dissolved methane fluxes. All analyzed chemical species indicate increasing anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) from medium- to high-backscatter locations. This is confirmed by visual seafloor observations, showing bacterial mats and authigenic carbonates formed by AOM. Grain-size analysis of the 4 multi-cores only reveals negligible variations between the different backscatter sites. Integration of all datasets leads to the conclusion that the observed backscatter patterns are the result of ongoing methane seepage and the precipitation of methane-derived authigenic carbonates (MDACs) caused by AOM. The carbonate formation also appears to lead to a gradual (self-)sealing of the seeps by cementing fluid pathways/horizons followed by a relocation of the bubble-releasing locations

Abnormally high acoustic sea-floor backscatter patterns in active methane venting areas, Dnepr paleo-delta, northwestern Black Sea

During the 58th and 60th cruise of R.V. Vodyanitskiy, conducted in the framework of the EU-funded CRIMEA project, almost 3000 active bubble-releasing seeps were detected with an adapted split-beam echosounder within the 1540 km2 of the studied Dnepr paleo-delta area. The distribution of these active seeps is not random, but is controlled by morphology, by underlying stratigraphy and sediment properties, and by the presence of gas hydrates acting as a seal and preventing upward migrating gas to be released as bubbles in the water column (Naudts et al., 2006).Here we present the relation between acoustic sea-floor backscatter and the distribution of more than 600 active methane seeps detected within a small area on the continental shelf. This study is further sustained by visual sea-floor observations, highresolution seismic data, pore-water data and grain-size analysis.The backscatter data indicate that seeps are generally not located within highbackscatter areas, but rather surround them. Most seeps are located within shallow pockmarks which are characterized by medium-backscatter values, whereas deeper pockmarks have high-backscatter values with much lower seep densities. The seismic data show the presence of a distinct gas front (free gas); shallow gas fronts correspond to high- and medium-backscatter areas, which are associated with gas seeps, whereas deep gas fronts correspond to low-backscatter areas without seeps. The presence of shallow gas is also confirmed by the pore-water data, showing higher amounts of dissolved-methane concentrations for areas with medium- to high-backscatter values.Visual observations showed that the high-backscatter areas correspond to white Beggiatoa mats. These thiotrophic bacterial mats are indicators for the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) which results in the formation of methane-derived carbonates (MDAC’s). AOM was also confirmed by the pore-water data. No clear correlation with grain-size distribution could be established.Based on the integration of all datasets, we conclude that the observed highbackscatter anomalies are a result of methane-derived authigenic carbonates (MDAC’s). The carbonate formation appears to lead to a gradual (self)-sealing of the seeps (Hovland, 2002), followed by a relocation of the bubble-releasing holes. Furthermore, the degree of MDAC-formation is directly linked to the backscatter intensity and seep activity which makes it possible to use the backscatter strength as a proxy for the seep activity and distribution