Environmental Science Abstracts:

A GIS Mapping Inventory of New York’s Lake Ontario Ordnance Works for the Benefit of Environmental Decision Making. KYLA GREGOIRE (Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 30206) LISA DURHAM (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Lake Ontario Ordinance Works (LOOW) of Niagara County, New York was, in 1942, home to a trinitrotoluene (TNT) production plant. From 1944 to the early 1950s, the Manhattan Engineering District (MED) used the site to store radioactive residue from the processing of uranium ore. Current remediation efforts, which began in 1970, focus on the implementation of risk-based environmental assessment (RBES) to determine future land use and appropriate clean-up criteria. Discontinuities in technology and the level of detail among the 50 years of LOOW documentation often make it difficult to use and combine the various historical maps, photos, and documents. Such discontinuities can impede the decision-making process for site remediation and closure. To eliminate this remediation obstacle, the ESRI Arc Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS) program was employed to catalog historic, spatial layers relating to the site. All historic, hard-copy physical map layers such as parcel boundaries, utility lines, and structures were first cataloged in Excel spreadsheets. They were subsequently cross-referenced to the available layers of the electronic record. In this manner, the final GIS inventory will be compiled as a complete replica of the original, hard copy, historic record. Attention was paid to detail such as uniform coordinate systems and the evolution of site layers over 50 years, which ensures consistency and readability among maps. The end product will be a GIS dataset of physical, hydrologic, and ecologic maps related to the site and surrounding area. This product will aid in determining clean-up criteria for the LOOW site media, comparing remedial alternatives, and ultimately designing remediation and site closure strategies. Further, it will communicate remedial efforts and progress among all LOOW stakeholders. Similar GIS cataloging techniques could be employed for remedial decision-making and environmental communication of contaminated sites nationally and globally.

Air Quality Impacts of Gas Appliance Usage. TRANG HUYNH (DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, 60647) BRETT SINGER (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Pacific Rim is being considered for use in Californian homes to supplement domestic natural gas supplies. Because the composition of natural gas varies depending on the origin of the gas supplies and the process of purification used by gas companies, studies are being performed to determine if this new source of natural gas can be introduced safely and efficiently into Californian homes. To determine the health and environmental impacts of LNG, NOx, CO2, and CO and fine particle concentrations (below 1 x107 particles/cm3) were collected through an exhaust hood and measured using gas and particle analyzers during gas appliance usage. Before LNG fuel sources can be tested, it is necessary to develop a method for determining conditions for optimal appliance performance and minimal particle emissions during appliance usage using current natural gas supplies to compare with future experiments with LNG. Currently, studies are being performed to determine the effect of cleaning ovens on the amount of particles that form during oven usage. The concentration of particles measured during oven usage varied (approximately 1x107 to 1 x104 particles/cm3) by oven temperature setting and by oven model. Following cleaning, oven particle concentrations decreased by an order of magnitude. These results will be used to develop a standardized method of conditioning appliances and to study gas appliance performance in a range of conditions to compare with future experimental studies using LNG.

An Enclosure Study to Investigate the Causes of the decline of Southern Leopard Frogs (Rana sphenocephala) on Long Island. DUNCAN ADAMS (Earlham College, Richmond, IN, 47374) JEREMY FEINBERG (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Around the world amphibian species are declining at unprecedented rates due to a variety of causes. Some, such as habitat loss, are readily observable, while some amphibian declines are not as well understood. The southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala) is an anuran native to much of the eastern United States, including Long Island, New York. Formerly one of the most visible and abundant frog species on Long Island, it has declined over the last 30 to 50 years to the point that there has not been a confirmed sighting since 1998. This possible extirpation could be due to habitat loss, environmental contamination, disease, invasive vegetation, interspecific competition, or any combination of these factors. In order to test these hypotheses leopard frog tadpoles were used as bio indicators. Leopard frog eggs were collected from southern New Jersey and placed in screen enclosures located in Long Island wetlands. Measurements of the tadpoles will be collected weekly and dead tadpoles tested for disease and toxicity. Tadpole growth and survival rates for the different conditions will indicate the relative importance of competition, disease, and plant community to the leopard frog. In following years similar experiments will be done to test the same and other factors in southern leopard frog decline on Long Island. The use of leopard frog tadpoles as bio-indicators this year and subsequent findings will help to identify possible sites of relic populations, as well as allowing the design of more effective conservation efforts for southern leopard frogs and similar species.

Analysis of Meteorological Observations Over the Former USSR, 1950-2000. GARRETT MARINO (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 2139) DALE P. KAISER (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Climate change studies require the processing and analysis of large compilations of meteorological data. Past studies investigated trends in meteorological variables over the former Soviet Union using data from a 223-station network spanning 1936-1990. A newly-acquired update to the database includes data through 2000. The database has been made available through cooperation between the two principal climate data centers of the United States and the former Soviet Union: the National Climatic Data Center, in Asheville, North Carolina and the All-Russian Research Institute of Hydrometeorological Information - World Data Centre in Obninsk, Russia. Station records consist of 6- and 3-hourly observations of 25 meteorological variables including temperature, precipitation, cloud amount and type, pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction. The 6-hourly observations extend from 1936 through 1965; 3-hourly observations extend from 1966 through 2000. To ensure high data quality, extensive quality assurance (QA) checks examined the data for completeness, reasonableness, and accuracy. We found significant gaps in some records from observational gaps or measurement values deemed erroneous. Also, World War II and the breakup of the Soviet Union affected some records’ completeness. Therefore, this analysis examined the period 1950-2000 for 125 stations. Total and low cloud amount, frequencies of various cloud types, and air temperature were all extracted from the dataset and plotted by station to assess variability and any long-term trends. The results showed that trends found by previous researchers using data through 1990 have continued through 2000. Total cloud cover significantly increased (95% confidence level) at 0.2%/decade despite a significant decrease in low cloud cover of 1.1%/dec. Meanwhile, low level stratiform clouds significantly decreased by 1.6%/dec and cumulus clouds significantly increased at 1.4%/dec. Stratiform clouds are associated with atmospheric stability and frontal passages. A warmer planet and the resultant reduction of both the meridional temperature gradient and atmospheric stability may be causing these cloud trends. Air temperature did exhibit a significant increase of 0.2°C/dec. The Russian database represents a wealth of meteorological information for a large and climatologically important portion of the earth’s land area, and should prove useful for a wide variety of additional regional climate change studies.

Assessing Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Procedures for the Development of the Freshwater Wetland Health Monitoring Protocols of Long Island’s Central Pine Barrens. SARAH MILOSKI (State University of New York at Brockport, Brockport, NY, 11420) ARIANA BREISCH (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

While wetlands, among the most productive ecosystems in the world, are often called the nurseries of life, little is known about the current health status of Long Island’s freshwater wetlands. Such vital systems should be monitored over time to determine the health of the wetlands. However, before gathering data in the field, it is necessary to assess and choose methods that will obtain the most representative results. Appropriately designed protocols will achieve the goals of establishing baseline data of the current wetland health and provide land managers with the data they require to make management decisions to optimize the health of the wetlands under their supervision. Monitoring methods need to be consistent, informative, and replicable in order to be comparable to future data. Benthic macroinvertebrates are crucial indicators of wetland health, since the number and type of species present yield significant information regarding water quality. In this research, appropriate procedures for sampling these organisms were reviewed and assessed using protocols developed by other states, such as Ohio and Florida. These protocols were adjusted to accommodate the unique conditions of the wetlands of Long Island’s Central Pine Barrens. To test the protocols, invertebrates were acquired using a d-frame dip net to sweep various wetland habitats. Invertebrates were then randomly chosen from an observation tray and identified in the field. Several protocols called for a sample total of 100 organisms. This task consumed time that could have been allotted to other aspects of the protocol. Therefore, the benthic macroinvertebrates encountered were noted as present, thus providing a list of organisms that existed in the wetland. When this list is compared to data collected during the revisit of a site, the absence of a formerly present organism provides information about the current state of the wetland and how it has changed. Despite a low amount of diversity while sampling, there was a plethora of adult Odonates in the wetland. This occurrence would support the existence of a substantial supply of microorganisms, such as algae and periphyton. It was concluded that simply monitoring benthic macroinvertebrates may not be an informative way of monitoring the aquatic organisms. Therefore, for the wetland protocol of Long Island’s Central Pine Barrens, further analysis should delve into a smaller scale of aquatic biota, such as periphyton and algae.

Characterization and Performance of the Zonal Exposure to Broadband RAdiation (ZEBRA) Shadowband. SARAH BRADEN (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60201) DARYL MYERS (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 89401)

Cost-effective measurement of solar radiation resources is a worldwide problem. The Zonal Exposure to Broadband RAdiation (ZEBRA) shadowband was developed by Michael J. Brooks at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban, South Africa, to reduce the cost of providing widespread data for solar resource assessment and climate change. The shadowband consists of regularly spaced perforations, allowing alternate measurement of diffuse and global radiation throughout the day. A pyranometer equipped with the ZEBRA shadowband is used to independently measure diffuse and global irradiance. Clear sky direct irradiance may be calculated without relying on a moving shadowband or other instruments. With the aid of an absolute cavity radiometer, or other reference pyrheliometer, the ZEBRA can provide shade-unshade calibration for pyranometers. This project characterizes and investigates the accuracy of the ZEBRA shadowband for data acquisition and pyranometer calibration. Data from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL) and UKZN was used to develop an algorithm to reconstruct global and diffuse clear sky profiles, test the shade-unshade pyranometer calibration method, derive and verify responsivity values, investigate thermal offset correction, calculate a shadowband correction factor, perform an uncertainty analysis, compare derived and reference data, study site dependence (using experimental results from southern and northern-hemisphere trials), and investigate performance under partly cloudy and overcast conditions. The combined statistical (2-sigma) and bias calculated uncertainty is about +/- 17 W/m² for diffuse irradiances and +/- 50 W/m² for global and direct irradiances. Comparisons of ZEBRA data with reference data have average empirical uncertainty of approximately +/- 30 W/m² or better for direct estimates, +/- 20 W/m² for global, and +/- 15 W/m² for diffuse. Our results demonstrate that the ZEBRA has the potential for use in mainstream radiation resource assessment as an alternative to multiple expensive instruments. The ZEBRA concept also has the potential to work for other types of radiometers. Further work may include the development of a software package for processing ZEBRA data as discussed here.

Characterization of the Structure of Cation-Doped Bacteriogenic Uranium Oxides using X-Ray Diffraction. JONATHAN STAHLMAN (Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15289) JOHN BARGAR (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford, CA, 94025)

Remediation of uranium contamination in subsurface groundwater has become imperative as previous research and manufacturing involving radionuclides has led to contamination of groundwater sources. A possible in situ solution for sequestration of uranium is a bacterial process in which Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduces the soluble (and thus mobile) U(VI) oxidation state into the less mobile UO₂ crystalline phase. However, the long term stability of the UO₂ compound must be studied as oxidative conditions could return it back into the U(VI) state. Incorporation of other cations into the structure during manufacture of the UO₂ could alter the dissolution behavior. A wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) experiment was performed to determine whether or not calcium, manganese, and magnesium are incorporated into this structure. If so, the substituted atoms would cause a contraction or expansion in the lattice because of their differing size, causing the lattice constant to be altered. After several stages of data reduction, the WAXS diffraction peaks were fit using the Le Bail fit method in order to determine the lattice constant. Initial results suggest that there may be incorporation of manganese into the UO₂ structure due to a .03 Å decrease in lattice constant, but more data is needed to confirm this. The calcium and magnesium doped samples showed little to no change in the lattice constant, indicating no significant incorporation into the structure. Most importantly, this experiment revealed an artifact of the cleaning process used to remove the bacteria from the sample. It appears the NaOH used to clean the samples is contracting the lattice also by ~ .03 Å, but no physical explanation is offered as of yet.

Characterization of the Sunset Semi-Continuous Carbon Aerosol Analyzer. JACE BAUER (Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907) XIAO-YING YU (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Atmospheric carbonaceous aerosols play a key role in climate forcing and global change. In-situ quantification of carbonaceous aerosols is therefore essential to reduce uncertainty in climate change models as well as for long-term monitoring by government agencies. The field deployable Sunset Semi-Continuous Organic Carbon/Elemental Carbon Aerosol Analyzer (Sunset OCEC) utilizes a modified National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) thermal-optical method to determine total carbon (TC), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC). It can provide in-situ semi-continuous measurements on an hourly basis; however, its performance is not yet fully characterized. Two collocated Sunset OCECs, identified as 'Unit A’ and 'Unit B,’ were used to characterize the relative standard deviation (RSD) and limit of detection (LOD) between June 23 and July 9, 2007 in Richland, WA. A high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter was utilized to determine the LODs of both instruments. The RSDs between the two Sunset OCECs are 9.1% for TC, 13.0% for optical OC, and 9.0% for thermal OC, indicating good precision between the instruments. In addition, the RSD for thermal EC is 29.0%, while optical EC is 48.3%. The LOD for Unit A is approximately 0.21 µgC/m³ for TC, optical OC, and thermal OC and ~0.004 µgC/m³ for optical and thermal EC. Similarly, Unit B has an LOD of ~0.29 µgC/m³ for TC, optical OC, and thermal OC, 0.018 µgC/m³ for optical EC, and 0.004 µgC/m³ for thermal EC. Several factors may have contributed to the poor RSDs of thermal and optical EC. First, the low EC mass loading at this location caused uncertainty in the measurements. Second, Unit B EC measurements were affected by a leakage in the oxygen valve. Third, the non-dispersive infrared detector in Unit B displayed excessive "noise," resulting in scattered optical EC measurements, which consequently worsened the comparison between Unit A and Unit B. Improved RSDs of all OC and EC parameters are expected after Unit B is repaired. Future work should reevaluate the precision of the Sunset OCECs and investigate the difference in various thermal-optical protocols on OCEC quantification.

Climate Change: A Systems Perspective on Research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CAITLIN SHENK (Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015) CHARLETTE A. GEFFEN (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Many aspects of the natural environment and human society are significantly affected by changes in climate. The impacts of climate change on both natural and social systems will be pervasive and complex, and are becoming increasingly apparent. As one of today’s most important and pressing environmental issues, climate change demands the expansion of fundamental scientific knowledge and the incorporation of this knowledge into practical mitigation and adaptation strategies. In order to examine and articulate the critical linkages between earth, energy, and social systems involved in addressing the climate change issue, an investigation and synthesis of current research efforts at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Wash. was conducted. Research initiatives and programs from divisions across the laboratory were examined, and information was synthesized to create an initial platform for the development of a comprehensive PNNL climate research policy and public image. PNNL’s research capabilities were divided into three categories of scientific and social interest based on gaps in knowledge about three major climate change questions. First is a question of climate change sensitivity: how sensitive are climate mechanisms to change? Second is a question of climate change impacts: how well can these changes, and the impacts of these changes, be predicted? Third is a question of climate change response: what, if anything, can be done to mitigate the impact on climate or adapt to the changes? By providing a useful composite of current issues and trends related to climate change, this project articulates the integral role of PNNL in climate research and provides a foundation for continued discussion of current and future scientific needs.

Climatological Impacts of Extreme Naturally Occurring Fire Events Associated with the Alaskan Summer of 2004. JESSICA RAGAZZI (St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, NY, 11772) RICHARD WAGENER (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Besides their important role in the forest ecology, fires are also expected to have a large impact on weather and climate. Climatotological impacts are expected to be the largest in the arctic regions due to these high intensity fires. Previous studies have shown that the composition of smoke particles produced by the fires depends on the type of fire and its temperature. Fires create their own local weather and the most intense fires lift smoke particles high into the atmosphere where they can reside a long period of time and are transported great distances by high altitude winds. The summer of 2004 in Alaska had been a most unusual season, characterized by dry spells and various periods of intense lightning strikes. In two days alone, seventeen thousand strikes were recorded. These events triggered tremendous fires across the state, in the end leaving six million acres burned. This study Used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MISR) satellite data to calculate the area of these fires. An analysis of the trajectories of these smoke plumes using an atmospheric transport model (HYSPLIT- HYbrid Single- Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) needed to be enacted in order to select those fires whose plumes pass over the in-situ Aerosol Observation System (AOS) operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Barrow, AK. The site is collocated with the DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement’s Climate Research Facility whose complement of instruments allows ground-based aerosol measurements. These in-situ and ground-based remote sensing measurements are combined with the MODIS aerosol retrieval products to estimate the direct radiative impact of these high intensity wild-fires. Several potential indirect effects investigated include the effects of smoke particles on cloud formation, cloud properties (droplet size, life-time), and the effect of soot particles on surface albedo by direct modification of the albedo of Alaskan glaciers and the potential for accelerated melting. This project explored only some of the effects of fires on climate. Further research may be done in order to obtain information on additional short or long term effects.

Comparative Ecological Study: Long Island Pine Barren Ponds, NY. HA'WANNA ST.CYR (Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70126) DR. TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The purpose of this research was to collect scientific ecological data on water and sediments from the Long Island Pine Barren Ponds including the ponds on Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) site and to compare results between the on-site (Zone-I) and off-site (Zone-II) ponds. The specific objectives were to: (a) analyze samples for physico-chemical factors; (b) compile and analyze data statistically; and (c) to identify the interrelationships between abiotic factors in ponds of two zones. We have collected 99 surface water and sediment samples (<15cm deep at 50 - 200m intervals, depending on size of each pond) randomly from 5 experimental sites (Groups 1-5). Experimental sites were plotted using eXplorist 200 Global Positioning System (GPS) and ArcInfo Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Field data were obtained on dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, turbidity, and conductivity using Yellow Spring Instruments, Inc. (YSI) probe. Water samples were analyzed using Hach DR890 colorimeter. Filtered and acidified water samples (pH<2) were used to estimate metal content using Directly Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (DCP). Sediment samples were air dried, sieved, and saved for elemental analysis using DCP. Macro and micronutrients were analyzed using LaMotte Soil Test Kits. Samples were also dried in an oven at 650C for 36-48 hr to obtain moisture. Majority of the water and sediments were acidic and nutrient poor. Soil texture is mostly either sand or silt. Moisture content varied between 20.98±10.35 to 50.02±6.13% in NRP and BNL samples, respectively. Sediment ANOVA results indicated positive and negative significances (P<0.05 and P<0.01) between elements, aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr). In conclusion, the Long Island Pine Barren pond water and sediments are acidic and nutrient poor. Sediments have higher concentrations of metals (Al and Fe), in general.

Comparative Ecological Study: Long Island Pine Barren Ponds, NY. LATONYA STEMLEY (Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70126) MURTY KAMBHAMPATI (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The purpose of this research was to collect scientific ecological data on water and sediments from the Long Island Pine Barren Ponds including the ponds on Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) site and to compare results between the on-site (Zone-I) and off-site (Zone-II) ponds. The specific objectives were to: (a) analyze samples for physico-chemical factors; (b) compile and analyze data statistically; and (c) to identify the interrelationships between abiotic factors in ponds of two zones. We have collected 99 surface water and sediment samples (<15cm deep at 50 - 200m intervals, depending on size of each pond) randomly from 5 experimental sites (Groups 1-5). Experimental sites were plotted using eXplorist 200 Global Positioning System (GPS) and ArcInfo Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Field data were obtained on dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, turbidity, and conductivity using Yellow Spring Instruments, Inc. (YSI) probe. Water samples were analyzed using HACH DR890 colorimeter. Filtered and acidified water samples (pH<2) were used to estimate metal content using Direct Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (DCP). Sediment samples were air dried, sieved, and saved for elemental analysis using DCP. Macro and micronutrients were analyzed using LaMotte Soil Test Kits. Samples were also dried in an oven at 650C for 36-48 hr to obtain moisture. Water was acidic (5.31±0.35 to 6.84±0.13 at CP and GP, respectively) and low in DO (4.12±0.89 to 6.92±0.55 ppm at CP and SBP, respectively). Alkalinity ranged from 27.71.1±60 ppm in BNL ponds to 82.9332±0.50 ppm in GP. One-way ANOVA results indicated mean differences between groups (df = 4) and within groups (df = 28). Soil texture is mostly either sand or silt. Moisture content varied between 20.98±10.35 to 50.02±6.13% in NRP and BNL samples, respectively. Sediment ANOVA results indicated positive and negative significances (P<0.05 and P<0.01) between elements, aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr). In conclusion, the Long Island Pine Barren pond water and sediments are acidic and nutrient poor.

Construction of a Functional Replica of the Transfer Chute in the Clean Transfer Area of the Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility. ERIC BECKER (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801) DONAL PREUSS (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

The Clean Transfer Area (CTA) is part of the Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility (AGHCF) where 7-gallon drums containing Remote-Handled Transuranics (RH-TRU) are transferred to 30-gallon drums. The drums are lined with plastic pouches that are subsequently vacuum sealed and tightly covered for transportation off-site following the AGHCF-OPS-305 RH-TRU 30-gal Waste Drum Outloading procedure. The CTA is radioactively contaminated, however, making practicing the Waste Drum Outloading procedure in it unsafe. Workers may receive more than the allowed radiation dosage if they are in the CTA for long periods of time. The purpose of building a replica of the transfer chute in the CTA is to provide a safe environment for the radiation workers to practice the Waste Drum Outloading procedure while still using an accurate model of the structure they will be working with. The transfer chute in the CTA was measured both from the inside and outside using a sextant. The controlled area where the replica was constructed was also assessed for usable parts and existing structures. The final step in acquiring the necessary measurements was researching the parts that needed to be ordered from outside sources. The replica design was then drawn and reviewed by the Assistant Facility Manager of the AGHCF, in addition to a Cognizant Systems Engineer. The specified materials were then ordered, both from outside vendors and from the Argonne Central Shops. A procedure outlining the necessary materials, tools, and assembly steps was written to equip the persons responsible to complete the replica accurately, efficiently, and safely. Once the materials arrived, they were moved to the assembly area where the replica would be constructed. Construction proceeded as outlined in the assembly procedure, and completed on-time (July 16, 2007), allowing the radiological workers time to practice the operation before the actual outloading takes place. The execution of the assembly procedure was also documented in order for later disassembly and reassembly to take place.

Development and Optimization of Growth Media for Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans 2CP-C. ALLISON SPENCER (Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 99362) DAVID CULLEY (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Bioremediation has great potential for containing and neutralizing toxic materials present in the environment. Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans’ ability to reduce different halogenated compounds makes it a prime candidate for environmental cleanup. Efficient growth conditions are essential for timely, cost-effective collection of the Anaeromyxobacter biomass necessary for genetic studies of this organism. The increased growth rate of Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans 2CP-C based on spectrophotometric assay of optical density was achieved by identifying nutritional growth requirements and determining optimal concentrations in a defined media. All Anaeromyxobacter cells were grown anaerobically from freezer stock at 37C in 22mL Balsch tubes without shaking. Cultures were grown in 10mLs media with a headspace of 90:10 N₂:CO₂. Experimentation commenced using a defined DCB-1 media which was continually modified as results were obtained. The optical density indicating peak cell concentrations resulted from the addition of 30mM Fumarate and 0.5uM Cysteine with a 40 fold decrease in Selenium and Tungsten concentrations previously used in a defined DCB-A media. Heat labile vitamins, trace minerals, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Fumarate, Selenium and Tungsten were added after autoclaving. The optical density of cell cultures increased from a maximum value of 0.077 after 16 days under standard conditions to a final density of 0.722 with the altered nutrients under identical growing conditions. This increase in optical density is proportional to a ten fold increase in cell biomass.

Development of an In-Situ Data Logging System for Multiple Trace Gas Analyzers. JOHN MIODUSZEWSKI (Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA, 16444) XIAO-YING YU (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

A field deployable in-situ data logging system was developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for trace gases including carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxides including nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and odd nitrogens (NO/NO₂/NO_x). On-line data acquisition and calibration are essential to analysis of observables and data integrity. As such, a program was written to control the communication between the data logger and each analyzer in Logger Net, a program used to communicate with the data logger. Analog outputs were collected by a CR-23X Campbell data logger between July 2, 2007 and August 7, 2007 in Richland, WA, with data being averaged every minute. A dynamic calibrator was used to calibrate the instruments using a gas standard with NIST certified concentration. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s HYSPLIT model was used to create a backward and forward trajectory of air during an episode of peak O₃ to determine pollutant sources and sinks. Data collected through the duration of the sampling period revealed several observations. Concentrations of all trace gases were low, due in part to the scarcity of pollutant sources in the region. Preliminary results indicate that the SO₂ readings were considerably lower than the more common mixing ratios of 1-20 ppb in rural-suburban environments. NO, NO₂, and NO_x averaged 0.3, 12.2, and 12.8 ppb, respectively, while the average CO was 228.5 ppb. Typical O₃ in similar environments peaks at 80-150 ppb, but the highest mixing ratio of O₃ observed was less than 45 ppb. HYSPLIT offered no apparent source for additional pollutants during the high O₃ episode, but increased photochemistry due to high temperatures would explain the increase in O₃. The development of the data logging and display system for key trace gas species is an essential measurement capability. It will facilitate future field deployment either on the ground or aboard aircraft with minor modifications. The calibration coefficients determined in this study would provide useful references of the instrument performance characteristics. In addition, the continuous data collected could potentially be a unique data set to study atmospheric chemistry of key trace gas species in a non-urban environment.

Educating Communities of Industrial Contaminants and Health Effects. MARGARET MCKIE (Loyola College Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21210) MARGARET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

An overall project of educating communities on safe contaminant levels and health effects concerning these contaminants is being realized through two different applications. The Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) in South Korea has requested the occupational and health-related toxicity values and key health effects of a list of more than 50 contaminants released into the air during the steel making process, to compare with the current output of these chemicals from a local steel company. Toxicity values from governmental and other scientific agencies were compiled into tables. These tables will serve as a foundation for a database for the communities, making them easily accessible by the responsible industry managers and the community, and other agencies in the future. The toxicity values will give the company a mark to measure their own values against, to see if they are within a safe range and to prioritize their future pollution mitigation plans. Another application of this project that puts knowledge of toxicity values into use concerns mercury and other chemicals used in the gold mining process. The purpose of this project is to educate gold shop owners and local artisans of the dangers when working with mercury and cyanide when producing gold. A prototype of a website was started to get the information to local people via teachers and trainers. The goal of this program is to develop health based information and facilitate training through easy to understand lessons. Outlines of chemical fact sheets that address mercury and cyanide have been created so that employers and the community can have a quick reference for the health effects of these chemicals. Nearly 20 resources used to create the fact sheets and website were put into a matrix delineating the most prominent topic and key content, so readers can navigate through the literature more easily. A business plan was outlined in order to support the wider use of mercury retorts to reduce airborne releases throughout the world of small gold mining. Through the education of workers and employers the Environmental Protection Agency hopes to create a safer working and living environment in these regions. Both applications have similar goals which are to notify communities of the toxicity and possible health effects of contaminants in the air and water, so educated decisions concerning health and the environment can be made.

Effects of Climate Change on the Leaf Gene Expression of Avena barbata in a California Grassland Ecosystem. LALEH ESMAILI (Gavilan College, Gilroy, CA, 95020) GARY L. ANDERSEN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Global climate changes are impacting the environmental conditions of many ecosystems. In order to develop an informed understanding of the effects of climatic changes on a grassland ecosystem, a study was conducted to examine plant response to altered rainfall pattern and increase nitrogen availability. Avena barbata, an abundant species in many Californian annual grasslands, was grown on natural soil in a climate-controlled greenhouse and submitted to three precipitation treatments (low, ambient and high rainfall) and two levels of nitrogen (ambient and addition of NH₄NO₃). The transcript abundance of three genes of interest (RbcS, GS1 and GS2) was studied in leaf samples collected from A. barbata plants at peak physiology. The changes in rainfall patterns did not have a significant effect on the total RNA content from A. barbata leaves or leaf gene expression except for GS1.Fertilization of the ambient soil conditions with NH₄NO₃ significantly increased the leaf RNA content and also lead to increased transcript levels for RbcS and GS2. The results suggest that A. barbata plants grown under high nitrogen availability respond by changing their gene expression possibly to increase the rate of photosynthesis and growth. This data will be used together with biochemistry and physiology data in a model to predict ecosystem response to climate change.

Effects of Naturally Occurring Ions on Arsenic Remediation in Bangladesh. EMILY DESLEY-BLOOM (Contra Costa COllege, San Pablo, CA, 94806) ASHOK GADGIL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Bangladeshis have been drinking arsenic contaminated water for over 20 years. Methods involving electrochemistry are being developed to improve the drinking water in Bangladesh. Few comprehensive studies have been performed on the naturally occurring ions found in Bangladesh, but a review of the available literature is essential to understand the potential effect such ions could have on remediation strategies employed in Bangladesh. In the following review, it was determined that phosphate had the greatest potential for interference, but it will not be a problem since the average concentration of phosphate in Bangladesh is less than was in the studies. However, in regions with high concentrations of these ions, an increased amount of iron hydroxides may be required to effectively remove arsenic from groundwater. The following report details the effects of various ions on arsenic removal via complexation with iron hydroxides.

Effects of Radiotransmitters on Woodhouse's Toad. BROCK MILLER (Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164) JAMES BECKER (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Radio telemetry is being used to study the post-breeding dispersal and home range of woodhouse’s toad (Bufo Woodhousii) on the Hanford Reach in southeastern Washington. However, little is actually known about whether transmitters attached to anurans affect their mobility and ability to avoid predation. Most studies assume that attaching transmitters causes little to no effect on anuran behaviors. We conducted an experiment designed to determine if the attachment of radio transmitters on anurans affects their ability to successfully bury in loose soil. Experiments were conducted using Woodhouse’s toads collected at night. Timed tests were conducted of individual toads burying under controlled conditions during daylight hours of the following day. Three treatments were assigned to each toad consisting of the transmitter positioned, 1) on the posterior and 2) on the anterior side of the individual, and 3) with a control where no transmitter was attached. Results indicated that the capability of the toads to bury and the amount of time spent burying were not different with and without transmitters. In this experiment transmitters that were less than 10% of the toad’s total biomass appeared to have no negative effects on burying ability.

Effects on soils after burning prairie ecosystem. PALOMA MARTINA CUARTERO (Contra Costa College, San Pablo, CA, 94806) MARGARET TORN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Soil respiration is one of the many ways C is released in the atmosphere in form of CO2. And since soils are the largest reservoir of carbon on land, where it accumulates roughly three times compared to that of the aboveground biomass and just about twice that of the atmosphere (Eswaran et al. 1993), the smallest change in soil carbon cycling worldwide can lead to major global climate change. Although fire is used to manage prairie ecosystem, wildfire is also a common event with effects on C balance that are not well understood. This study explains how burning affects C balance in the terrestrial ecosystem by comparing the C properties of burned and unburned soils. As expected, the C content of soil is much higher in the top surface soil where decomposition of organic matters occurs. Our data for the unburned soils shows C accumulates over time. However, burning prairie ecosystem allows C to escape from soils (in form of CO2) causing a change of flux between the soil and the atmosphere. The total C lost is approximately 0.50 kg/m2.

Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Effects on Agricultural Soil Carbon Using Free-Air Concentration Enrichment. LIZ HOFREITER (Bradley University, Peoria, IL, 61625) JULIE D. JASTROW (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) has raised concerns that global climate change will result in adverse consequences including a loss of ecosystem biodiversity. In attempts to offset rising CO₂ levels, carbon (C) sequestration potential in agricultural ecosystems is being examined to determine if agricultural soil will act as a sink for future C emissions. This study examined the effects of CO₂ enrichment on soil C storage in maize (Zea maize L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation agro-ecosystems in Champaign, Illinois over a seven year period. Free air concentration enrichment was used to elevate CO₂ in four crop rings 70m in diameter. An identical set-up was established for an additional four control rings held at normal atmospheric CO₂ levels. Core samples 25cm deep were collected from all eight rings and fractionated into particulate organic matter (POM), microaggregates >53µm, silt, and clay. Microaggregates >53µm were further fractionated, isolating intra-aggregate POM, silt, and clay. Fractions were dried and processed through the Carlo Erba to find percent C by gas chromatography. The C distribution dropped in all soil fractions in both control and elevated rings by less than 2 mg C/g soil between 2001 (when pre-experiment samples were taken) and 2007. Percent carbon also decreased in all soil rings (control and elevated) ranging from -0.0736% to -0.9905%, with the exception of ring five (elevated) which increased by 0.0339%. The nominal change of C can be attributed to slow soil organic matter accretion. Although past studies show increases in root biomass in elevated CO₂ rings, only a fraction of C in root biomass is translated to soil organic carbon, resulting in a slight accumulation of soil C, which may take more than 7-10 years to detect. A greater time period is needed before future studies are conducted to compare soil C accumulation to initial 2001 values.

Elevated atmospheric [CO₂] concentrations do not alter net nitrogen mineralization rates in a [CO2] enriched sweetgum forest. CAITLIN GUTHRIE (Pomona College, Claremont, CA, 91711) AIMEE T. CLASSEN (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO₂]) in the atmosphere have increased by 36% in the last 250 years. Previous research has demonstrated that elevated levels of atmospheric [CO₂] can increase plant production. However, to maintain an increased level of growth, trees must acquire higher levels of soil nutrients. Thus, nutrient availability might ultimately constrain the response of forests to elevated [CO₂]. In particular, nitrogen (N) often limits plant production in terrestrial ecosystems, and understanding how soil N cycling responds to elevated [CO₂] in forests will enable scientists to make better predictions of how forests will respond to climatic changes in the future. I took advantage of a long-term experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) manipulating atmospheric [CO₂] to test the prediction that elevated [CO₂] would decrease net N mineralization. Net N mineralization is the amount of N that microbes have transformed from an organic form to an inorganic form that is available to plants (minus the N taken up for use in microbial biosynthesis). The ORNL, Free-Air [CO₂] Enrichment (FACE) facility was constructed on a sweetgum plantation planted in 1988. There are five 25-m rings (two elevated rings where the target concentration is 550 ppm CO₂, and three ambient rings) and the treatments have been running since 1998. I inserted N mineralization soil cores into each of the rings in June and July, 2007, and let them incubate for 30 days each. Results indicate that there is no difference in net N mineralization rates, net N nitrification rates, or leaching between elevated and ambient plots. However, there was a significant decrease in net N mineralization rates for both treatments from June to July. These results may indicate that increased forest production under elevated [CO₂] has not altered the net amount of N available for tree uptake at ORNL FACE. Alternatively, the lack of response to elevated [CO₂], and concurrent temporal response could reflect the low levels of precipitation (the third lowest on record since 1895) observed over the course of this study. More work is needed to illuminate the effects of elevated [CO₂] on soil N cycling and its effects on forest production at this site.

Energy, Carbon and Climate: Projections to 2025. ALISON ERLENBACH (University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601) T.J. BLASING (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Energy demands and associated carbon emissions in the U.S. are expected to increase in the foreseeable future. Policies to reduce fossil-fuel consumption and carbon emissions must consider present and future energy needs, and fuels available to most economically meet those needs, both of which show appreciable inter-regional differences. The National Energy Modeling System (NEMS), a product of the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, projects this growth based on various economic factors for the country as a whole, and within each of the nine census divisions of the country. In this study, we summarized output from the NEMS for each census division, including projected regional carbon emissions which we calculated based on NEMS-projected energy statistics. To consider climate-change effects on energy demand, we used the results of an earlier study in which a Parallel Climate Model-Integrate BIosphere Simulator (PCM-IBIS) was used to drive the NEMS using different climate change scenarios. Base-case (no climate change) projections show varying increases in energy consumption and carbon emissions for each region, as their populations increase at varying rates. Carbon emissions do not increase proportionately to energy demands, but instead depend on the fuel types each region uses, and is projected to use, as well as the proportion of energy supplied by electricity. Electric generation is inherently an inefficient use of thermal energy; only about one third of the thermal energy produced can be converted to electricity. The remainder is identified as "electricity-related loss" in the NEMS. Approximately 20% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions result from this "lost" thermal energy. Effects of simulated climate warming, compared to the base case, were to decrease national energy demand. However, projected carbon emissions increased because reduced carbon from heating was outweighed by the increase in carbon emissions for electricity used for cooling. Regional carbon emissions increased at varying rates, being heavily dependent on the fraction of energy that is electricity and on the fuel types used to generate electricity. Policies to mitigate carbon emissions should consider regional differences in projected demands and in economically available fuels, as well as differences in regional potentials of renewable energy sources and of technologies that reduce wasted thermal energy.

Estimating Evaporative Transpiration in Wetlands of the San Joaquin Valley. ADAM HALL (Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, 4011) NIGEL QUINN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Since the water resources of Central California are intensively used in agricultural and municipal contexts water resources available for managed wetlands are very limited and must be carefully managed. Modeling patterns of evaporation and transpiration, collectively referred to as ET, is an important step in managing irrigation regimes with the goals of limiting evapo-concentration of salts and maintaining high levels of water quality with the greatest possible water use efficiency. In agricultural systems water needs are often estimated by reference to potential ET (ETo) values, the ET of a well watered pasture plot. ETo data is readily available from weather stations reporting to the California Irrigation Management Information System from locations throughout the state. The relationship between ET and ETo in agricultural systems is well understood. This relationship is less well understood for wetlands because of the complex vegetation and moisture dynamics within these systems. A Bowen Ratio Energy Balance Station was deployed to a wetland near Los Banos to estimate ET using a Bowen Ratio Energy Balance Equation. Micro-meteorological sensors measure incoming and outgoing energy fluxes through air and soil and estimate the latent heat flux of the system, which is proportional to ET. Our estimates of ET are compared to ETo values reported to the CIMIS network. Wetland ET and ETo values do not correlate well. The dynamic nature of wetland plant communities and water resources create more complex patterns of ET than those observed at ETo plots where water resources and plant communities are intentionally held constant. Modeling of wetland ET based on ETo data will must account for seasonal changes in soil moisture and plant community composition and distribution. This research contributes to a larger project of understanding the relationships between irrigation timing, water use, water quality, and plant communities. A variety of methods, including soil salinity surveys and remote sensing estimates of plant community distributions will be integrated to model wetland moisture and plant community dynamics with the aim of improving wetland best management practices and water use efficiency while sustaining valuable wetland habitat.

Evaluating Electrical Conductivity Measurements to Determine Water Flow Rates. RAY TUGMAN (California State University, Fresno, Fresno, Ca, 93706) EARL MATTSON (Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415)

Centrifuges are used to measure hydraulic properties and solute transport in porous medias. Although the centrifuge is attractive due to the large centrifugal force that it can apply, a major drawback of the centrifuge method is the difficulty of measuring flow rates while the test is in progress. To overcome this limitation, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) scientists are investigating if water flow rate can be determined through the analysis of electrical conductivity measurements in the effluent cup. A prototype electrical conductivity meter was designed and built that can continuously record and transmit electrical conductivity measurements of the effluent while the centrifuge is spinning. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of the electrical conductivity prototype as to its ability to measure flow rate. If we know the initial volume, the initial electrical conductivity, the electrical conductivity at any given time and the input conductivity, we can calculate the cumulative flux. By plotting the cumulative flux as a function of time, we will produce a graph whose slope is equivalent to the flow rate. In the steady flow tests, the flow rate determined by the cumulative flux of the actual flow rate was constant throughout the experiment and within approximately 2.5% of the actual flow rate. The cumulative flux appears to be nosier in the latter ½ of the data set . In the variable flow test, the calculated cumulative flux predicts the correct shape of the measured cumulative flux curve; however, the calculated cumulative efflux is biased slightly high. This electrical conductivity meter needs further evaluation in the following areas: 1) the effects of mixing in the centrifuge ; 2) long term probe drift-how much will the probe drift during experiments lasting several days; 3) Optimization of solution initial volumes and concentrations.

Evaluating Health Effects and Technology Options for Communities with Environmental Contaminants. ANGELA PARKER (Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, 23504) MARGARET M. MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

The research supports two projects, both of which address an overarching theme of evaluating health effects and technology options for communities with environmental contaminants. Both of these projects will be used to guide mitigation programs in designated areas of the world. Basic information was compiled, organized and synthesized in order to support the programs being designed to protect the health of those individuals and their communities within targeted areas. Contributions to these projects include evaluating key exposure and toxicity values from a number of agency sources, both for the public and workers, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, and Occupational Safety & Health Administration. A large quantity of information has been extracted on more than 30 chemicals of interest to prepare the project database. This database will be used to provide the Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) scientists with detection targets for upcoming environmental sampling programs in the steel making industrial area. The information in the database has also been synthesized to outline a management prioritization tool to help highlight those chemicals that should be addressed first by upcoming studies. Also, a preliminary evaluation of current technology was conducted in order to compare two chemicals of interest (mercury and cyanide) for artisanal gold miners in many communities throughout the world and their respective effects on human health and the environment. In addition, this scientific information is being translated into educational outreach materials for both a website and health fact sheets to promote awareness of the hazards for the local public.

Evaluation of Operating Conditions When Measuring Gaseous Ammonia Using A Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrometer (TDLAS). KHATERA RAHMANI (Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, 11210) ARTHUR SEDLACEK (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Ammonia (NH₃) is the only alkaline in the atmosphere. It is highly-reactive and is commonly found in concentrations of 1ppb in ambient air (but can readily approach concentrations in the 1000s of ppb when near sources). In addition to the role that NH₃ plays in the biochemical cycles of nitrogen, it also plays a role in aerosol formation by reacting with atmospheric NOx and SOx. The resulting aerosols have been observed to play a role in global climate change. The high sensitivity and fast response time of the TDLAS makes it a good candidate for measuring gaseous NH₃. Although the TDLAS is highly sensitive and can measure concentrations of NH_{3  3} can stick to the inner walls of the tubing used to inject in the air sample into the instrument. Typically, tubing made out of Teflon (PFA) is used, however very little research has been done to determine if Teflon is the most inert material with respect to NH₃. Therefore, a series of experiments were performed on a known concentration of NH₃ of flowed through various tubing materials (Teflon, copper, stainless steel, glass). Under dry air conditions, stainless steel held up the least amount of NH₃. In contrast,Teflon resulted in the greatest loss of NH₃. The tubing was also heated (40°C) under dry conditions and negligible changed in the loss of NH₃ was observed. An important finding in this study was that with increased flow rates, the measured concentration of NH₃ agreed more closely to that calculated for a permeation source, possibly due to the decrease in residence time of NH₃ in the tubing. Decreased residence time leads to less diffusion of NH₃ in the inlet system. Inlet conditions were then evaluated under humidified conditions using ambient air from outdoors to dilute the NH₃ source. With relative humidity above 50%, NH₃ loss was observed with all tubing material. Least amount of NH₃ loss was observed with Teflon (9% loss), while greater loss was observed with stainless steel (11% loss) and copper (15% loss). The loss of NH₃ under humidified conditions is presumably due to NH₃ diffusing into the condensed water on the inner walls of the tubing. These preliminary studies have shown that humidity, and flow rate have a significant effect on the accuracy of measurements of ambient NH₃ concentration. With further research, loss of NH₃ in inlet systems can be quantified to aid in the process of monitoring ambient NH₃ concentrations to evaluate overall environmental health.

Examining the Relationship between Soil Carbon Stability and Mineral Surface Reactivity in an Ultisol from the Tennessee Valley. RACHEL PORRAS (California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, 94543) MARGARET S. TORN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) represents a major reservoir of biosphere carbon which may be chemically or biologically transformed to atmospheric CO2 as well as other greenhouse gases. Despite its importance in maintenance of ecosystem integrity and critical role in regulation of climate system stability, the actual physicochemical and biotic factors that govern the partitioning and long-term stabilization of organic matter within the soil environment remain poorly understood. SOM stability derives principally from physical protection within aggregates and association with reactive mineral surfaces. Mineral associated C is believed to be irreversibly bound. However, evidence from recent 14C studies of mineral stabilized OM appears to indicate that the mineral fraction contains a more labile carbon component that is capable of actively exchanging over time. In this this preliminary experiment radiocarbon measurements were utilized to assess the size and relative stability of two operationally defined SOM pools within the dense mineral fraction of a carbonaceous soil (Ultisol) in an effort to gain insight into the capacity of the mineral fraction of these soils to actively adsorb and stabilize organic inputs. AMS results obtained for the 0-15 cm depth class were contrary to initial predictions. The dense fraction (rho> 2.4 g cm-3) contained a greater concentration of pulse-derived 14C than the lower density fraction. The trend observed for the 0-15 cm depth is reversed in the 15-30 cm depth for all treatments with the 1.7-2.4 g cm-3 fraction exhibiting a greater concentration of pulse-derived14C. Measured soil delta 14C indicates greater retention of rhizospheric inputs by both fractions. The ???C measured for the litter treated plots was similar in magnitude to that of the control. The effect of depth and treatment were found to be highly significant on measured delta 14C (P<0.001). The effect of density on delta 14C was also found to be significant across treatments. Although additional analyses are necessary to quantify labile C in the two density fractions, characterize mineralogic composition, and assess mineral surface reactivity, these results indicate that the method utilized successfully isolated two SOM pools from the dense fraction with differing chemical properties and C stabilization efficiencies.

Exploration of a Real Options Analysis of the Nuclear Waste Issue. BENJAMIN DEJONGE (State University of New York at Brockport, Brockport, NY, 14428) DAVID LEPOIRE (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

The question of how to assess energy criteria in a rapidly evolving world economy is nothing new, however it has recently captured more public attention due to changing political and environmental factors. For example, fossil burning power plants emit large amounts of greenhouse gasses. While all energy sources have pros and cons; for example, nuclear power has virtually no carbon emissions, but introduces problems in proliferation, waste (spent nuclear fuel – SNF), and accident issues, various research efforts and strategies have been proposed to reduce these problems. However, these research and environmental issues also require economical analyses to help determine the value of pursuing a particular technological path, such as the development and utilization of a closed-fuel cycle in which SNF is reprocessed and recycled to meet rapidly increasing energy demand while also potentially reducing risks. Real options analysis (ROA) addresses assessment in quickly changing situations with large uncertainties for actions that might be irreversible. ROA is applicable in determining the value of SNF reprocessing because the situation is one in which environmental assessments, technology, regulations, markets, and scientific understanding quickly evolve. An existing ROA based discrete binomial lattice model on renewable energy was implemented in Microsoft Excel. The model was modified in order to better assess the value of SNF reprocessing with specific parameter values, nuclear growth assumptions, uranium price fluctuations, and various funding scenarios. A ROA value of about $9 billion was calculated, given that the initial price of uranium was 268 $/kg, with a government funding. This value indicates that with the simplified assumptions in this model it would be economically favorable to continue with consideration of reprocessing technologies. The sensitivity to the interest rate, the time to deploy, and the demand for nuclear fuel were investigated. Future work could address the inclusion of: more options (e.g., deploying in multiple phases), environmental costs (e.g., consideration of risk reduction), detailed data on potential plans, and modeling specific research efforts. Given the uncertainty in environmental, economic, and international politics, the U.S. is in a position to seriously consider reprocessing as a potential domestic and international energy source through the GNEP program. This technique could facilitate and communicate these decisions.

Heterogeneity of Aquifer Materials and Spatial Variability in the Carbon Tetrachloride Plume in the 200-West Area, Hanford Site. TAMARA JEPPSON (Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322) GEORGE V. LAST (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

The migration and transformation of groundwater contamination is affected by the physical and chemical heterogeneity of the lithofacies that make up aquifer material. At the 200 West area of Washington State’s Hanford Site a plume of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is located in the unconfined aquifer. Remediation of the plume requires accurate models of the subsurface that show the lithofacies and their affect on the migration of CCl4 in the aquifer. To add detail to previous models a 2.87 km long transect along the eastern part of the 200 West area was chosen. The transect passes through eight wells; the borehole and geophysical logs from these wells were standardize and interpreted to create a geologic cross section showing the depth and continuity of the lithofacies. Depth discrete measurements of the concentration of CCl4 and chloroform (CHCl3), which forms as a result of the dechlorination of CCl4, were used to infer the extent of the contaminant plume. The high concentrations of CHCl3 occur in the same areas of the cross section as the high concentrations of CCl4, their correlation suggests that geochemical reactions maybe causing the dechlorination of the CCl4. A comparison of the contaminant concentrations and stratigraphy shows that the highest concentrations of the CCl4 and CHCl3 occur around and are confined by fine grained layers. Within the fine-grained layers the concentration of CHCl3 is higher than it is outside of the layer indicating that reduced zones and iron-containing sediments, needed for the dechlorination of CCl4, may be present in high amounts in these layers. In the southwest end of the cross section there are high concentrations of CCl4 and CHCl3 that apparently do not occur near a fine grained layer. This difference implies that there maybe reduced, iron-containing sediments within the coarse-grained layers as well as the fine-grained layers The influence of reduced zones and fine-grained layers on the contaminant plume indicates that improved understanding of the spatial variability of these reactions should improve fate and transport predictions and lead to better remediation decisions.

Impacts of Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants in Western Pennsylvania. MICHELE BENDER and CARLOS BU (Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY, 12550) TERRY SULLIVAN PHD (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Mercury, a neurotoxin, is toxic to the human especially the brain, nervous system, kidney, and liver. Power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions in the United States. When fully implemented by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Clean Air Interstate Rule and the Clean Air Mercury Rule will lead to a reduction in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 70 percent to fifteen tons per year by 2018. The EPA estimates that due to these higher restrictions mercury deposition will be reduced eight percent on average in the eastern United States. A concern exists that the deposition of mercury near power plants will be much greater than average, leading to a "hot spot" where exposure may be greater than desired. For this study a "hot spot" is defined as an area no less than four square miles with a mercury concentration higher than the average by one standard deviation. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of three coal-fired power plants on the surrounding environment in western Pennsylvania. During the growing season, oak leaves collect deposited mercury from the power-plant emissions and have a large surface area to collect mercury. The study focused on oak leaves from leaf litter within a five-mile radius of each power plant. Sample collection began with mapping of the area around the power plants to determine easy access locations within circular sampling rings, and collection of oak leaves from the leaf litter at the sampling locations. The samples collected were dried, ground into small particles, and processed using a Direct Mercury Analyzer to calculate the mercury content in the samples. After the results were collected, the data was analyzed to determine if "hot spots" occurred. The results did not indicate a "hot spot" in the region near the power plant. However, the information shows a possible effect of the power plants increasing mercury concentration in a southeast direction, consistent with the prevailing wind pattern. The data shows a possible correlation of elevation increasing deposition, but the data is not conclusive. Therefore, the power plants had little impact on the presence of a "hot spot" on the surrounding area.

Improving Efficiency of Storage Gas Water Heaters. DEREK KING (Laney College, Oakland, CA, 94607) JIM LUTZ (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

The energy required for water heating accounts for approximately 25% of national residential natural gas consumption. In California that figure is closer to 40%. With water heating using such a substantial portion of valuable natural gas resources, water heating appliance efficiencies deserve some scrutiny. What is referred to as “standby losses” are addressed in this study. Typical storage gas water heaters have a flue for combustion exhaust located along the center of the storage tank. When the burner is inactive, ambient air flows through the flue. The cooler air absorbs heat from the storage tank and rises out of the exhaust vent. Fresh air is drawn in through openings at the base of the heater. This cycle continues until the stored water falls below the preset maintenance temperature and the burner is activated. Consequently, more fuel must be spent to maintain a store of hot water to keep up with the standby losses. Several alternative designs have been proposed to address this energy loss mechanism and remain competitively priced for consumers. The Department of Energy’s 24 hour efficiency test will be used to compare performance of an off-the-shelf storage gas water heater and the alternative prototypes. The prototypes that demonstrate an improvement in heating efficiency could then be further developed for the consumer market.

Increasing the Accuracy of Global Irradiance Calculations: An Analysis of Responsivities and Correction Methods. LIZA BOYLE (University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211) STEPHEN WILCOX (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 89401)

In an effort to make solar radiation data more accurate for solar energy system and climate change research there have been many advances in solar radiometer calibration leading to the creation of several different pyranometer responsivities and correction methods. Here we study the accuracy of four responsivities - "responsivity (45º)", "responsivity function", "responsivity (45º) corrected", and "responsivity function corrected" - and three correction methods - "Reda" (which relates directly to the two corrected responsivities), "Dutton", and "Full." Data was gathered from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program, Southern Great Plains sites, over a two and half year period. The average difference, or deltas, between a reference irradiance, determined from independent direct and diffuse irradiances, and the irradiance calculated from pyranometer data using these different methods was examined. The averages and standard deviations of these deltas indicate the accuracy and precision of the pyranometer data. Analysis of data showed that the "responsivity function" reduced the zenith angle dependence apparent in the "responsivity (45º)", decreasing the overall standard deviation of the deltas from 15.15 W/m^2 to 11.74 W/m^2. Average deltas decreased from 4.40 W/m^2 to 1.46 W/m^2 by using the "responsivity function". Analysis also showed that "responsivity (45º) corrected" slightly decreased the average delta of the "responsivity (45º)" data from 4.40 W/m^2 to 1.56 W/m^2, while keeping the scatter relatively constant, 15.15 W/m^2 to 13.45 W/m^2 respectively. The "responsivity function corrected" slightly increased the average delta of the "responsivity function" data from 1.46 W/m^2 to 1.51 W/m^2, while keeping the scatter relatively constant, 11.74 W/m^2 to 12.31 W/m^2 respectively. When applied to "responsivity (45º)" data, the "Dutton" and the "Full" methods reduced the average delta from 4.40 W/m^2 to 0.23 W/m^2 and 0.97 W/m^2 respectively, but increased scatter from 15.15 W/m^2 to 16.26 W/m^2 and 16.13 W/m^2 respectively. These results indicate that that "responsivity function" and "responsivity function corrected" have the greatest accuracy and least uncertainty. Further studies are needed to understand why the "Dutton" and "Full" methods increase scatter, understand all of the trends revealed in the data, and compare other responsivities and correction methods with those analyzed in this study.

Initial Characterization of Soil Cultivated with Switchgrass at Milan, TN. MELISSA PAYTON (California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, 93740) JULIE JASTROW (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, have been increasing in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities. Scientists have been researching ways to remediate this increase through carbon sequestration. The Department of Energy's Consortium for Research on Enhancing Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems (CSiTE) focuses on studying carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems cultivated with the bioenergy crop, Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Switchgrass in belowground ecosystems has the ability to sequester and allocate carbon from carbon dioxide into the soil. This study focused on investigating the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and different switchgrass cultivars. Another focus of this study included determining fine and coarse particulate organic matter (POM), clay, and silt fractions of the soil at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-15 cm depths as well as the carbon and nitrogen ratios (C:N) between fractions. Soil samples were fractionated according to size through wet sieving and centrifuging. Nitrogen and carbon percentages were measured for each fraction at the 0-5cm depth utilizing automated carbon and nitrogen analyzers. Results revealed that differences existed in the amount of soil organic carbon cultivated with the different switchgrass cultivars, and soil was composed of primarily silt (74-76%). Clay percentages increased and POM percentages decreased as the depth of the soil increased. The highest carbon and nitrogen concentrations at the 0-5 cm depth occurred in the clay and silt fractions. This study also revealed that the coarse POM in the 0-5 cm soil depth had the highest C:N ratio. The differences between SOC and switchgrass cultivar revealed in this study indicate that there may be one switchgrass cultivar that sequesters the most amount of carbon. Future research needs to focus on measuring the nitrogen and carbon percentages at 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm depths, and determining the role soil microaggregrates play in storing carbon.

Investigating Metal Concentrations in the Tissue and Shells of Bivalves Crassostrea virginica and Geukensia demissa in NY Hudson River Estuary and Long Island Sound using Synchrotron Radiation. SOREN MURRAY (Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, New York, 11209) KEITH JONES (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Bivalves are shellfish that filter feed by straining suspended food particles in the water. Heavy metals and other contaminants found in the silt in the water they filter are absorbed and reflected in their shells and tissues. Many government and non government groups have teamed up to bring them back to the Hudson Estuary and Long Island Sound for their monitoring and filtering capabilities. In Mayor Bloomberg’s Sustainable Development report for 2007 he proposed putting mussel farms in the Hendrix Creeks water treatment plant discharge which would allow the water to be filtered and monitored. Synchrotron radiation because of its detection sensitivity, spatial resolution and multi-element detection can be used to determine the concentrations and locations of the contaminating elements; shells indicating multi-year time span and soft tissue indicating the compounds deposited in the sediment that may be recycled back into the environment when the bivalve dies. Samples of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica and ribbed mussels Geukensia demissa shell and tissue were taken from NY’s Hudson Estuary, Long Island Sound, known contaminated and known uncontaminated locations. The gills, adductor muscles, feet, and digestive track were dissected and then analyzed at the National Synchrotron Light Source using the x26a beamline. The results are being analyzed for contaminating element correlations between different locations. Growth patterns of the shell indicate, depending on the elements locations in the shell, the time the bivalve ingested the elements. Present and previous contamination levels will be recorded and observed giving researchers an indication of water quality and whether it’s improving or declining. Once the contamination levels are definitive a course of action to clean the waters can be formed. Experiments and analysis are still in progress.

Just in Time Data Retrieval using Python. ELVIRA MEZA (City University of Seattle, Bellevue, WA, 98005) LANCE VAIL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Vail and Skaggs (2002) describes the conceptual design of a system to improve natural resources management in the Columbia River Basin. A key feature of this proposed system is the need to access data from distributed servers on a "just in time" basis. This capability is essential to ensure that the system’s ability to fulfill the system’s requirements related to accountability, accessibility, and adaptability are achieved. The system is composed of toolboxes related to decision support, model management, and data management. The functionality of the data management toolbox requires a reliable and flexible capability to for distributed data management. The project described herein was to evaluate the utility of the Python programming language to develop tools for a wide range of platforms that can perform the "just in time" data access and filtering.

Linking Microbial Diversity and Geochemistry of Uranium-Contaminated Groundwater. DANIELLE HALL (University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, 48128) CHRISTOPHER SCHADT (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Microbes control many of the important geochemical processes that occur in the environment. They utilize and produce nutrients that are involved in eutrophication and are even capable of cleansing the environment by degrading a vast variety of chemical compounds. In this study, microbial communities were assessed based on clone libraries of 16S rDNA genes from the Department of Energy Field Research Center. The samples were collected from four different sites (GW-835, GW-836, FW-113-47, and FW-215-49) containing varying levels of pH (3 to 7), nitrate (44 to 23,400 mg/l^-1) and uranium (0.73 to 60.36 mg/l^-1). Community DNA was extracted by grinding the samples with sterile sand and liquid nitrogen. The resulting DNA was purified then amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with 16S ribosomal primers. The 16S ribosomal genes were cloned using a PCR 2.1 vector and then transformed in E. coli cells. The clones were then screened by PCR and sequenced. The sequence data were analyzed for each clone library using BioEdit, DOTUR, LIBSHUFF, and RDP Classifier. Results indicated that bacterial diversity correlated with the geochemistry of groundwater. Bacterial diversity was highest at the site with a neutral pH and containing the lowest concentrations of nitrate and uranium (GW-836). The diversity decreased with declining pH values and increasing concentrations of nitrate and uranium. This difference reflects not only the diversity measurements and indices of nucleotide sequences but also LIBSHUFF analysis of clone libraries. The clones consisted primarily of sequences closely related to the phylum Proteobacteria, with site FW-113-47 almost exclusively containing this phylum. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi were also very prevalent bacterial groups in all samples except FW-113-47. The microbial community information gained from this study and previous studies at the site can be used to develop predictive multivariate and Geographical Information System (GIS) based models for microbial populations at the FRC. This will allow for better understanding of what organisms are likely to occur where and when based on geochemistry, and how these relate to bioremediation processes at the site.

Long Island Pine Barren Ponds: Water Quality. SHAKERA PINDER (Tallahassee Community Collge, Tallahassee, FL, 32304) DR. TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Ponds in the Pine Barren complex at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Near Road Ponds (NRP), Calverton Ponds (CP), Sears Bellows County Park Ponds (SBP), and ponds of the Long Pond Greenbelt (GP) of Suffolk County, NY were studied. A Magellan eXplorist 200 Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to mark each pond. A YSI 650 MDS Probe was used to measure the real-time data on temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, and turbidity of the water. This study is specifically focused on the alkalinity, the acidity, and the buffering capabilities of ponds within the Pine Barrens. We have collected three random surface water samples directly into 500 mL Nalgene bottles and one random water sample at approximately two feet deep, from each pond for a total of 33 ponds located on and around BNL’s site and of Suffolk County, NY, using a Plano Horizontal Polycarbonate Water Sampler. Water samples were analyzed using HACH Digital Titrator and TitraVer Solutions and were tested for acidity, alkalinity, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) hardness, and total hardness. The water temperature of each pond was greatly affected because some ponds were shaded by surrounding forest trees, while other ponds were directly exposed to the Sun. One of the goals of this project was to obtain the results of the physico-chemical analyses of water samples and focus on the most pressing water quality of pond problems in Long Island, NY. This study also provides a look at the variations of pH within each pond and how they are affected by the atmospheric acid deposition. The results of this research show that there is no correlation between near-road ponds and off-road ponds. Results of this study will assist ecologists on how to manage the habitats of wildlife in the Long Island Pine Barren ponds.

Long Island’s Interactive Weather Map and Microsoft Excel Data Entry. KATIE JOHNSON (St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, NY, 11772) VICTOR CASSELLA (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The Long Island Interactive Weather Map was created for all personnel on site at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The primary purpose of this map is to give employees a place where they can access current weather data from all over Long Island, as well as archival data dating back from the 1940s up to the present day. Throughout weather stations across Long Island, we collected data on temperature, wind speed, direction, gusts, barometric pressure, humidity, and precipitation from old records and entered them into a large Microsoft Excel database. This data is sent via radio waves to a receiver at BNL, collected and stored as an ASCII string, fed into a MySQL database, and updated on the meteorological website once a minute. We have created a web page using the following languages: PHP, SQL, JavaScript, and HTML. This page has an image of Long Island and displays all of the towns with BNL’s current weather stations. When a user hovers over any of the towns or stations, a small pop-up box appears and the current data is displayed for that town. At the bottom of the box, a link for further archive data is available for that town or station. The user can navigate through the data to get what is needed. Never before has there been such an easy, all-in-one design that has allowed users to see current and archival weather data on BNL’s meteorological website. Throughout this project, the majority of the BNL weather acquisition system has been reconfigured and available to the BNL staff. 

Measurement of Aerosol Absorption using Photothermal Interferometry: Folded Jamin Interferometer. WILLIAM MCMAHON (SCCC, Selden, NY, 11784) ARTHUR SEDLACEK (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

While the role of greenhouse gases (GHG) on global climate change is well understood the contribution of aerosols to climate change is much more uncertain. For example, depending upon their optical properties, aerosols can either offset GHG effects (through scattering) or contribute to global warming (through absorption). As a result, there is a need for improved measurements that will better quantify the role of aerosols on our climate. The Photothermal Interferometer (PTI) is an instrument designed to measure aerosol absorption. In its present configuration the PTI measures aerosol absorption at one wavelength incorporating a Lock-In Amplifier in a Phase Sensitive Detection (PSD) technique. However, climate modelers require aerosol absorption data at several wavelengths, in which case an LIA would need to be dedicated to each wavelength. To meet this requirement upgrades to the control and data acquisition system of the PTI unit must be made. Specifically, using an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) card combined with the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique several wavelengths can be separated and analyzed simultaneously. This FFT technique would replace the PSD technique eliminating the need for multiple LIA’s. Preliminary measurements verified 1) A strong correlation between the LIA and FFT techniques, and 2) The linear response of PTI signal to concentration of absorbing gas.

Paving an Environmentally Friendly Road to Fusion. DOREEN NUZZOLESE (The College of New Jeresy, Ewing, NJ, 8628) CARL SZATHMARY (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, 8543)

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) strives to sustain fusion power as a reliable and environmentally safe energy source. First, with the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor, then the National Spherical Torus Experiment, and now the National Compact Stellerator Experiment, PPPL comes closer and closer to achieving their goal. However, these experiments use harmful substances, such as deuterium and tritium, and it is imperative that these substances not get released into the surrounding air and water. It is the responsibility of PPPL’s Princeton Environmental Analytical Radiological Laboratory (PEARL) to protect the environment and ensure safety. To do so, radio-chemists in the PEARL perform tests on air and water samples taken from areas surrounding the lab. Before being released into the environment, wastewater is tested through either Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), testing for organic matter, or alkaline distillation purification, followed by Liquid Scintillation Analysis, testing for tritium. Air samples are tested for tritium through the Differential Atmospheric Tritium Sampler System. All test results are fed into a fiscal year report and kept on file. If any one sample shows evidence of harmful substances, it is immediately removed from site and cured before disposal. Therefore, while advancing fusion, PPPL poses no health threat, but rather advocates safe scientific practices. In conclusion, PPPL is on its way to safely revolutionizing energy through fusion, an inexpensive, inexhaustible fuel that will be sure to have an immense global impact.

Poor litter quality under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations reduces aquatic macroinvertebrate colonization of decomposing leaf litter in streams. VANESSA GARCIA (California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, 93740) AIMEE T. CLASSEN (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Levels of atmospheric CO₂ have increased since the industrial revolution and are expected to continue to rise. Previous work has shown that leaf litter produced by trees grown under elevated levels of atmospheric CO₂ is of lower quality (increased carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) ratios) relative to leaves grown under ambient CO₂ levels. While many studies have focused on how this change in quality may alter terrestrial decomposition, few have investigated how it may alter invertebrate decomposition of leaves in streams. Our objective was to determine whether a decline in leaf litter quality (i.e, an in increase in litter C:N) due to elevated atmospheric [CO