Controls on the regional-scale salinization of the Ogallala aquifer, Southern High Plains, Texas, USA

Mehta, Sunil; Fryar, Alan E.; Banner, Jay L.

doi:10.1016/s0883-2927(99)00098-0

Cited by 51 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As can be likened to other arid to semiarid regions of the world (Amuti et al, 2014;Sarah and Zonana, 2015;Torres et al, 2015;Barbero-Sierra et al, 2015;Mureithi et al, 2015), this region (the SHP) is currently facing complex environmental challenges such as drought, declining groundwater quality, wind erosion, and soil salinization that limit agricultural productivity (Mehta et al, 2000;Stout, 2001;Allen et al, 2005;Young et al, 2015). Recent observations have also revealed an increasing number of cases of micronutrient deficiency, which could be attributed to the characteristically high pH soils prevalent in this region and intensive crop production activities.…”

Section: T K Udeigwe Et Al: Examining the Fixation Kinetics Of Chementioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the fixation kinetics of chelated and non-chelated copper and the applications to micronutrient management in semiarid alkaline soils

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. This study examined and compared the fixation and fixation kinetics of copper (Cu) in chelated (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, EDTA) and non-chelated mixed systems of micronutrients in the semiarid soils of the Southern High Plains, USA, using findings from Cu extraction studies and kinetic models. Approximately, 22 % more Cu was fixed in the non-chelated system compared to the chelated within the first 14 days with only 7 % difference between the two systems by day 90. Findings suggest a decrease in the effectiveness of chelated micronutrients over time, highlighting the significance of timing even when chelated micronutrients are used. The strengths of the relationship of change in available Cu with respect to other micronutrients (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn)) were higher in the nonchelated system (R 2 : 0.68-0.94), compared to the chelated (R 2 : 0.42-0.81), with slopes of 0.40 (Cu-Fe), 0.31 (Cu-Mn), and 1.04 (Cu-Zn) in the non-chelated system and 0.26 (CuFe), 0.22 (Cu-Mn), and 0.90 (Cu-Zn) in the chelated system. Reduction in the amount of available Cu was best described by the power function model (R 2 = 0.91, SE = 0.081) in the non-chelated system and second-order model (R 2 = 0.95, SE = 0.010) in the chelated system. The applications generated from this study could be used as tools for improved micronutrient management and also provide baseline data for future work in other semiarid/arid alkaline soils of the world. Findings are also more applicable to field settings, an improvement over related previous studies.

show abstract

Section: T K Udeigwe Et Al: Examining the Fixation Kinetics Of Chementioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the fixation kinetics of chelated and non-chelated copper and the applications to micronutrient management in semiarid alkaline soils

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Future studies should examine other marginal water sources and test their suitability for hydraulic fracturing operations, particularly in areas of high water scarcity, such as Texas 8 and California. Three types of saline or brackish waters should be considered: (1) waters with predominance of Ca and SO 4 ions (similar to the AMD) with high scaling potential (for example, groundwater from the Ogallala aquifer, southern high plains, Texas, 44 Trinity and Woodbine aquifers in north-central Texas, 45 and agricultural return flow in the central valley, California 46 ), (2) waters with predominance of Na and Cl ions (e.g., southern Gulf Coast aquifer system in Texas 47 ) with low scaling potential, and (3) hard waters with predominance of Ca, Mg, and alkalinity and high scaling potential of carbonate minerals (e.g., treated domestic wastewater 48 ). The merit of using marginal waters should be examined for specific cases, but use for hydraulic fracturing could have additional benefits.…”

Section: Environmental Science and Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Radium and Barium Removal through Blending Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids with Acid Mine Drainage

Kondash

Warner

Lahav

et al. 2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wastewaters generated during hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale typically contain high concentrations of salts, naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), and metals, such as barium, that pose environmental and public health risks upon inadequate treatment and disposal. In addition, fresh water scarcity in dry regions or during periods of drought could limit shale gas development. This paper explores the possibility of using alternative water sources and their impact on NORM levels through blending acid mine drainage (AMD) effluent with recycled hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids (HFFFs). We conducted a series of laboratory experiments in which the chemistry and NORM of different mix proportions of AMD and HFFF were examined after reacting for 48 h. The experimental data combined with geochemical modeling and X-ray diffraction analysis suggest that several ions, including sulfate, iron, barium, strontium, and a large portion of radium (60− 100%), precipitated into newly formed solids composed mainly of Sr barite within the first ∼10 h of mixing. The results imply that blending AMD and HFFF could be an effective management practice for both remediation of the high NORM in the Marcellus HFFF wastewater and beneficial utilization of AMD that is currently contaminating waterways in northeastern U.S.A.

show abstract

“…Saline ground water in the Carson-Gray Counties plume was first reported by local residents prior to Mullican et al (1997) and Mehta et al (2000). (1964).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mullican et al (1997) developed a singlelayer ground-water flow model to evaluate recharge scenarios (diffuse vs. focused) in the area of the plumes, but did not address the salinity variations within the Ogallala aquifer. Using end-member mixing models with chemical and isotopic data, Mehta et al (2000) showed that the increased salinity in the Carson-Gray Counties plume is largely unrelated to oil-field brines present in deep units. Instead, salinization results from the mixing of isotopically depleted, confined paleowaters with underlying saltdissolution zone waters, followed by upward discharge into the Ogallala aquifer.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling regional salinization of the Ogallala aquifer, Southern High Plains, TX, USA

Mehta

Fryar

Brady³

et al. 2000

Journal of Hydrology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two extensive plumes (combined area Ͼ1000 km 2 ) have been delineated within the Ogallala aquifer in the Southern High Plains, TX, USA. Salinity varies within the plumes spatially and increases with depth; Cl ranges from 50 to Ͼ500 mg l Ϫ1. Variable-density flow modeling using SUTRA has identified three broad regions of upward cross-formational flow from the underlying evaporite units. The upward discharge within the modeled plume area is in the range of 10 Ϫ4 -10 Ϫ5 m 3 day Ϫ1 , and the TDS concentrations are typically Ͼ3000 mg l Ϫ1. Regions of increased salinity, identified within the Whitehorse Group (evaporite unit) underlying the Ogallala aquifer, are controlled by the structure and thickness variations relative to the recharge areas. Distinct flow paths, on the order of tens of km to Ͼ100 km in length, and varying flow velocities indicate that the salinization of the Ogallala aquifer has been a slow, ongoing process and may represent circulation of waters recharged during Pleistocene or earlier times. On-going pumping has had negligible impact on the salinity distribution in the Ogallala aquifer, although simulations indicate that the velocity distribution in the underlying units may have been affected to depths of 150 m after 30 years of pumping. Because the distribution of saline ground water in this region of the Ogallala aquifer is heterogeneous, careful areal and vertical characterization is warranted prior to any well-field development. ᭧

show abstract

Controls on the regional-scale salinization of the Ogallala aquifer, Southern High Plains, Texas, USA

Cited by 51 publications

References 31 publications

Examining the fixation kinetics of chelated and non-chelated copper and the applications to micronutrient management in semiarid alkaline soils

Examining the fixation kinetics of chelated and non-chelated copper and the applications to micronutrient management in semiarid alkaline soils

Radium and Barium Removal through Blending Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids with Acid Mine Drainage

Modeling regional salinization of the Ogallala aquifer, Southern High Plains, TX, USA

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About