http://greatlakesresilience.org/sites/default/files/library_reference_2008_JournalofPreventativeMedicine_ClimateChangeandWaterbourneDiseaseRiskInTheGreatLakes.pdf

Climate change and waterborne disease risk in the Great Lakes region of the U.S.

Catchment controls on solute export

Systematically varying properties and reactivities have led to focused research of the environmental forensic capabilities of rare earth elements (REE). Increasing anthropogenic inputs to natural systems may permanently alter the natural signatures of REE, motivating characterization of natural REE variability. We compiled and analyzed reported dissolved REE concentration data over a wide range of natural water types (ground-, ocean, river, and lake water) and groundwater chemistries (e.g., fresh, brine, and acidic) with the goal of quantifying the extent of natural REE variability, especially for groundwater systems. Quantitative challenges presented by censored data were addressed with nonparametric distributions and regressions. Reported measurements of REE in natural waters range over nearly 10 orders of magnitude, though the majority of measurements are within 2-4 orders of magnitude, and are highly correlated with one another. Few global correlations exist among dissolved abundance and bulk solution properties in groundwater, indicating the complex nature of source-sink terms and the need for care when comparing results between studies. This collection, homogenization, and analysis of a disparate literature facilitates interstudy comparison and provides insight into the wide range of variables that influence REE geochemistry.

Rare earth element distributions and trends in natural waters with a focus on groundwater.

http://maeresearch.ucsd.edu/tartakovsky/Papers/tartakovsky-2013-assessment.pdf

Assessment and management of risk in subsurface hydrology: A review and perspective

European case studies supporting the derivation of natural background levels and groundwater threshold values for the protection of dependent ecosystems and human health.

Preparatory Steps and Common Problems.- Preparatory Steps and Common Problems.- Remote Sensing.- Aerial Photography.- Photogrammetry.- Nonphotographic Imaging from Aircraft and Space-borne Platforms.- Geophysics.- Magnetic Methods.- Gravity Methods.- Direct Current Resistivity Methods.- Electromagnetic Methods.- Ground Penetrating Radar.- Seismic Methods.- Surface Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.- Borehole Logging.- Geophysical In-situ Groundwater and Soil Monitoring.- Geological, Hydrogeological, Geochemical and Microbiological Investigations.- Methods for Characterizing the Geological Setting.- Methods for Characterizing the Hydrologie and Hydraulic Conditions.- Methods for Characterizing the Geochemical and Microbiological Conditions.- Interpretation of Geological, Hydrogeological, and Geochemical Results.- Integration of Investigation Results.- Data Fusion.- Joint Interpretation.

Environmental Geology: Handbook of Field Methods and Case Studies

https://www.ucd.ie/dipcon/docs/theme07/theme07_04.PDF

A procedure to define natural groundwater conditions of groundwater bodies in Germany.

Major element chemistry, rare-earth element distribution, and H and O isotopes are conjointly used to study the sources of salinisation and interaquifer flow of saline groundwater in the North East German Basin. Chemical analyses from hydrocarbon exploration campaigns showed evidence of the existence of two different groups of brines: halite and halite Ca–Cl brines. Residual brines and leachates are identified by Br−/Cl− ratios. Most of the brines are dissolution brines of Permian evaporites. New analyses show that the pattern of rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) are closely linked to H and O isotope distribution. Thermal brines from deep wells and artesian wells indicate isotopically evaporated brines, which chemically interacted with their aquifer environment. Isotopes and rare-earth element patterns prove that cross flow exists, especially in the post-Rupelian aquifer. However, even at depths exceeding 2,000 m, interaquifer flow takes place. The rare-earth element pattern and H and O isotopes identify locally ascending brines. A large-scale lateral groundwater flow has to be assumed because all pre-Rupelian aquifer systems to a depth of at least 500 m are isotopically characterised by Recent or Pleistocene recharge conditions.

Deep reaching fluid flow in the North East German Basin: origin and processes of groundwater salinisation

Die natürliche, ubiquitär überprägte Grundwasserbeschaffenheit in Deutschland

In several areas of the North German Basin, saline water comes close to, or even reaches the surface. Available data from wells indicate that brine stratification is under unstable conditions in the deeper underground. In order to analyse the possible transport mechanisms, 3D thermohaline simulations have been carried out for two different scenarios. The 3D regional model (230×330 km) indicates that salty water is driven to the surface by hydrostatical forces from the surrounding highlands. In addition, a smaller scale model (10×10 km) has been constructed with a grid resolution accounting for possible convective flow. The results indicate that convective flow may play a dominant role in areas with minor topography. In summary, the complex pattern of near surface occurrences of saline water probably results from the interaction of hydrostatic and thermal forces.

Hans-Jürgen Voigt

Papers

Environmental Geology: Handbook of Field Methods and Case Studies

A procedure to define natural groundwater conditions of groundwater bodies in Germany.

Deep reaching fluid flow in the North East German Basin: origin and processes of groundwater salinisation

Die natürliche, ubiquitär überprägte Grundwasserbeschaffenheit in Deutschland

Fluid-dynamics driving saline water in the North East German Basin