Solomons, Md. (April 6, 2010) New research by a team of ecologists and hydrologists shows that water temperatures are increasing in many streams and rivers throughout the United States. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, documents that 20 major U.S. streams and rivers including such prominent rivers as the Colorado, Potomac, Delaware, and Hudson have shown statistically significant long-term warming.
By analyzing historical records from 40 sites located throughout the United States, the team found that annual mean water temperatures increased by 0.02-0.14F (0.009-0.077C) per year. Long-term increases in stream water temperatures were typically correlated with increases in air temperatures, and rates of warming were most rapid in urbanized areas.
"Warming waters can impact the basic ecological processes taking place in our nation's rivers and streams," said Dr. Sujay Kaushal of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and lead author of the study. "Long-term temperature increases can impact aquatic biodiversity, biological productivity, and the cycling of contaminants through the ecosystem."
"It's both surprising and remarkable that so many diverse river systems in North America behaved in concert with respect to warming," said Dr. David Secor of the UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory whose work focused on Maryland's Patuxent River, where he has noted a 3F increase since 1939.
The analysis indicates that 20 of the 40 streams studied showed statistically significant long term warming trends, while an additional 13 showed temperature increases that were not statistically significant. Two rivers showed significant temperature decreases. The longest record of increase was observed for the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, New York. The most rapid rate of increase was recorded for the Delaware River near Chester, Pennsylvania.
"We are seei
'/>"/>
| Contact: Christopher Conner cconner@umces.edu 443-496-0095 University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. MSU leads global effort to study link between people, planet
2. Peregrine reports new study from Duke shows anti-HIV potential of targeting PS on cells
3. Out of this world: New study investigates infection of human cells in space
4. Study reveals that logging debris suppresses development of an invasive competitor, Scotch broom
5. NYSCF fellow lead author on study that derives floor plate tissue from embryonic stem cells
6. VARI study could improve treatments for prostate cancer
7. LSU researcher receives grant to study equine adult stem cells
8. Grocery shoppers who try harder to track costs do worse, study finds
9. Study uses Chinese wolfberries to improve vision imperfections caused by type-2 diabetes
10. Study shows compulsive eating shares addictive biochemical mechanism with cocaine, heroin abuse
11. Single gene dramatically boosts yield, sweetness in tomato hybrids, CSHL-Israeli study finds
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |