United States Department of the Interior

About: United States Department of the Interior is a government organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Coal. The organization has 2675 authors who have published 2202 publications receiving 53734 citations. The organization is also known as: DOI & Department of the Interior.

Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States

Abstract: From foreword: "This report represents the most current methodology available for wetland classification and culminates a long-term effort involving many wetland scientists."

Power Flow Solution by Newton's Method

Abstract: The ac power flow problem can be solved efficiently by Newton's method. Only five iterations, each equivalent to about seven of the widely used Gauss-Seidel method, are required for an exact solution. Problem dependent memory and time requirements vary approximately in direct proportion to problem size. Problems of 500 to 1000 nodes can be solved on computers with 32K core memory. The method, introduced in 1961, has been made practical by optimally ordered Gaussian elimination and special programming techniques. Equations, programming details, and examples of solutions of large problems are given.

The new world atlas of artificial night sky brightness.

Abstract: Artificial lights raise night sky luminance, creating the most visible effect of light pollution—artificial skyglow. Despite the increasing interest among scientists in fields such as ecology, astronomy, health care, and land-use planning, light pollution lacks a current quantification of its magnitude on a global scale. To overcome this, we present the world atlas of artificial sky luminance, computed with our light pollution propagation software using new high-resolution satellite data and new precision sky brightness measurements. This atlas shows that more than 80% of the world and more than 99% of the U.S. and European populations live under light-polluted skies. The Milky Way is hidden from more than one-third of humanity, including 60% of Europeans and nearly 80% of North Americans. Moreover, 23% of the world’s land surfaces between 75°N and 60°S, 88% of Europe, and almost half of the United States experience light-polluted nights.

Evaporation Into the Atmosphere: Theory, History, and Applications

Abstract: Evaporation is a topic that crosses several disciplines, and comprehensive texts on the subject are rare. Evaporation Into the Atmosphere is, therefore, a welcome addition to the literature. The approach to the determination of evaporation varies significantly depending upon the constraints that control the system of interest. The oceanographer, for example, is concerned with evaporation from large bodies of water and tends to approach the problem from the aerodynamic or turbulent-diffusion point of view. The hydrologist, on the other hand, is mainly interested in evaporation from the soil and water transpired by plants and may apply the aerodynamic approach to determine evapotranspiration from large homogeneous fields but will be forced to apply the water budget or various degrees of empirism in dealing with long-term losses from heterogeneous basins. Finally, the water-resources engineer concerned with water or energy losses from lakes, reservoirs, or streams, will seldomly apply a purely aerodynamic approach having found that the energy budget, semi-empirical mass transfer, or other approaches best meet his needs.

Drinking Water Nitrate and Human Health: An Updated Review

Abstract: Nitrate levels in our water resources have increased in many areas of the world largely due to applications of inorganic fertilizer and animal manure in agricultural areas. The regulatory limit for nitrate in public drinking water supplies was set to protect against infant methemoglobinemia, but other health effects were not considered. Risk of specific cancers and birth defects may be increased when nitrate is ingested under conditions that increase formation of N-nitroso compounds. We previously reviewed epidemiologic studies before 2005 of nitrate intake from drinking water and cancer, adverse reproductive outcomes and other health effects. Since that review, more than 30 epidemiologic studies have evaluated drinking water nitrate and these outcomes. The most common endpoints studied were colorectal cancer, bladder, and breast cancer (three studies each), and thyroid disease (four studies). Considering all studies, the strongest evidence for a relationship between drinking water nitrate ingestion and adverse health outcomes (besides methemoglobinemia) is for colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, and neural tube defects. Many studies observed increased risk with ingestion of water nitrate levels that were below regulatory limits. Future studies of these and other health outcomes should include improved exposure assessment and accurate characterization of individual factors that affect endogenous nitrosation.